An excerpt from Chapter One
Leaning On the Everlasting Arms
Fairhaven, Tennesseewas located in the southeastern division of Dyer County, Tennessee. The population of Fairhaven was 3,000. Of that 3,000 people 850 were African American. The nearest town of any size was RoEllen, Trimble, or perhaps Newbern, Tennessee. All of the so mentioned cities paled in comparison to the county seat of Dyersburg – the city of 27,000 inhabitants. Dyersburg was a city that never had an accurate count of its African American citizens. The city itself had become famous for a trial of its sheriff and its judge. The scandals were so treacherous until even Dyer Countians were amazed. Dyersburg, the city that, unlike so many small southern cities, had two sides of town that traditionally housed African Americans – the Bruce Community (that had been named after Blanche Bruce, one of the first African American senators serving in U. S. Congress from the state of Mississippi from 1875 – 1881 during Reconstruction) which was located on the East side of Dyersburg and the Future City Community which was located on the West side of Dyersburg with uncertain boundaries for both. Like all other small towns within the region, Fairhavenchose Dyersburg as its model city while Dyersburg chose its neighboring cities of Jackson and Memphis as models due to the growth of these two cities.
The year was 1985.
It was Melvin’s first year at Dyersburg Middle School. Melvin had graduated from Fairhaven Elementary School that served children from grades K – 7. The children had the option to attend Dyer County School System or Dyersburg City
School System after seventh grade. Because Etta taught in the Dyer County School system and there were no private
schools in Fairhavenfor Melvin and his sisters, all of the James children were dutifully shipped to the Dyersburg City School System whereas Etta could remain partial in her judgment of educational growth of her children. As a teacher in the former system, she did not wish to become a hindrance to her children’s growth and development because she was an employee,
hence, the second system worked for her.
At first, Melvin was afraid to go to school in Dyersburg. He knew that transition was always hard yet it was always a necessary evil that one must face. Dyersburg Middle School was indeed much larger than Fairhaven Elementary School had been. The population of students at D.M.S. was at least three to four times larger than it had been at F.E.S. at Fairhaven, Melvin had been a star. He was not so certain about his popularity at Dyersburg Middle School.
Melvin had come to an age in his life when he realized that everything about him had begun to change. He no longer spoke in a high pitched and squeaky voice. He had begun to notice that hair had begun to sprout up in all types of places on his body… his legs, his arms, his arm pits, and even between his legs. He had also begun to realize that unlike some of his friends, he had little to no attraction to girls but had become keenly attracted to other boys. Some of his friends had
gone on to become athletes and they had begun to develop muscles in all of the right places. Melvin had overheard his older sisters talking about a “gay” boy at their school. He listened intently and soon realized that, just like the gay
boy in whom his sisters discussed so viciously, he had the same attraction to guys that the boy did in which they
discussed.
Melvin knew that it would be hard for him to hide his sexuality at Dyersburg Middle School because he knew that there were too many fine looking boys there. He had just begun to deal with and come to grips with who he was. He had come to terms with his sexuality after passing to the sixth grade. He realized that he was naturally attracted to boys rather than girls for some strange reason that he could not really put his finger on. It was just something about the male anatomy that really turned him on. He never revealed this secret to any one, however yet he accepted the fact that he must be gay like his
mother’s brother, Uncle Claiborne.
Uncle Claiborne lived in Atlanta and seldom came home to Fairhaven for anything! He did not even come home for funerals. If an immediate family member died, he would come home long enough to attend the wake and leave in the wee
hours of the night whereas he would miss the funeral completely yet there would always be an extremely ostentatious floral arrangement left amidst the other arrangements that always bore his insignia. At Christmas time, all of the
immediate relatives received exquisitely wrapped gifts from chic shops from around the world. Grandma Bertha always received several new dresses with matching hats, furs, and elegant jewelry. Gramps Jeremiah always received two
new suits with matching hats, ties, shirts, shoes, and socks. Etta always received a gift box containing the latest designer perfume while Clarence would receive a Persian sweater that he would never wear. Melvin’s sisters all received new dresses from the latest designer while Melvin was always presented with a trendy new suit, new pair of Nikes, and some type of new outfit that would not become popular within that corner of Tennesseeuntil the following year. Uncle Claiborne always sent lavish gifts but never his presence.
Time would eventually reveal its truth. Uncle Claiborne was able to make such lavish purchases each year because he was an extremely successful porn star and escort. His life afforded him a fabulous apartment in Los Angeles, a townhouse in New York City, a condo in Atlanta on the infamous Buford Highway, and a villa in Jamaica. Because of his occupation
and the risk that someone from Fairhaven might confront him, he alleviated the risk by never exposing himself to the town
gossip.
During locker assignment at Dyersburg Middle School, Melvin met Bradley Kelly.
Melvin had seen Bradley from afar growing up and while at church functions. Bradley was a member of Rock Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America that was the family owned and built church of the Smith-Kelly Clan. Rock Spring was located in RoEllen where Bradley was from. Occasionally, Rock Spring and Mt. Carmel would fellowship in the afternoons. Both Bradley and Melvin had been choir members which only made their meeting inevitable at some point in their lives.
As destiny would have it, they were now assigned locker partners.
Soon, they discovered that they had identical class schedules.
They were almost doomed to become friends or enemies.
They chose the former.
Bradley was athletic and had already begun to develop muscles. He wore a “whap” haircut. In 1983, this haircut was considered the bomb in West Tennessee. Kid and Play had made it famous in their movie. The haircut was simple, however. It provided the hair to be faded in the back and on the sides but the hair that remained on the top of the head was slanted to the right. Anyone who sported a “whap” would also sport, one, two, or three parts cut at varying lengths in the “whap.” Bradley had a smooth, milk chocolate complexion that seemed to permeate in the sunlight. When he chose to smile, which was often, he would warm you heart instantly. Somehow, a person would always feel at ease in his
presence.
At first glance, Melvin wanted him! Bradley was fine! There was indeed no doubt about that! However, after sharing a locker as well as classes with him for the entire school year, Melvin did not quite view Bradley in a romantic light any
further. Instead, Bradley became the brother that Melvin never had. He was witty and he didn’t mind speaking or sharing his opinion nor did he mind speaking up for himself and, occasionally, for Melvin as well. Bradley knew how to handle
himself in all situations. He was a “for sure” person who definitely had his act together.
Academically, Bradley’s grades matched Melvin’s. Melvin was a straight “A” student and enjoyed the academic challenges that Bradley would supply his mind at times.
It was by accident that Melvin discovered Bradley’s sexual preference.
The school year had soared by and had come to an end. After their fri4endship had developed and blossomed, they had become inseparable. They attended everything together. It was no surprise to see them together at church events, ball games, pep rallies, Student council meetings, school newspaper meetings, choir rehearsals, and any other activity scheduled for the middle school students. They even double dated from time to time. Melvin found this to be a little odd and silly because he knew within his own heart that he wasn’t attracted to girls. He also knew that he had to “save face” in order to be accepted in the community in which he came, so he, like Bradley, would go out on dates together.
On one particular day before the end of school, the two of them overheard a group of Caucasian boys discussing pledging SPO or Sigma Phi Omega Fraternity.
“Why don’t we have fraternities in high school?” Melvin asked Bradley.
“We do,” Bradley commented. “You haven’t gotten your letter yet?
“What letter?” Melvin asked.
“A group called Omega Phi Theta sent me a letter on yesterday,” Bradley said as he opened his back pack to retrieve the letter. He passed the crumpled letter to Melvin.
“I wonder why they didn’t send me one?” Melvin asked a little disappointed.
“Some guy asked me about it last week. He wanted to know if I knew of any other guys who would be interested in pledging his fraternity,” Bradley said quickly. “I gave them your name. You should get a letter today or tomorrow.”
“Do they pledge?”
“It’s a fraternity, Melvin, jeez.”
“I don’t know,” Melvin said softly.“They might ask us to do something wrong or something.”
“It’s not like they are gonna ask you to suck their dick or something.”
“That might be interesting,” Melvin said without thinking.
“Don’t I know it,” Bradley said as he looked away from Melvin as if he were reminiscing of some far and distant land.
“Would you do it?” Melvin asked curiously.
“It depends on who it is,” Bradley responded earnestly.
“Oh really?” Melvin commented as he attempted to lure Bradley into a long awaited question and answer. “You talk like you speak from experience or something.”
“I do,” Bradley commented.
“What?”
Melvin was astonished.
“Huh?”
Bradley said as he realized that he had revealed his secret. “Well, what’s wrong?”
“I’m just shocked,” Melvin confessed.
“Shocked about what?” Bradley asked.
“That you’ve done it,” Melvin commented earnestly. “I’ve always wanted to try it but I don’t really know nobody in Fairhaven.”
Bradley inhaled and released a long yet slow gush of air. He forgot that he often aimlessly drifted into a world of his own. Whenever he did this, the world became oblivious to him. Now, he had revealed a secret about himself. He did not
mind Melvin knowing but he was not always comfortable around Melvin. Melvin could sometimes have such a serene and peaceful aura about himself until Bradley felt that it was either angelic or judgmental. Now, Bradley was looking at his
best friend and openly declaring that he wanted or have had sex with another boy. This was becoming more sordid than Bradley ever anticipated. Here it was that Melvin lived a life whereas he managed to have everything. It was not so
with Bradley. He had to scuffle in order to help keep food on the table at times. He knew that his mother was an alcoholic. His father had been gone since he was six or seven. He could not quite remember. Through it all, though, he had
managed to keep his head held high. He soon found himself blessed to have become a friend of Melvin’s although Melvin could sometimes get on another level than where he was at.
Bradley looked into Melvin’s eyes.
Melvin actually lost the serenity about his aura and began to look rather pitiful in Bradley’s opinion.
“So, are you saying that you are gay or what?” Bradley questioned.
“I guess I am,” Melvin confessed in a manner that seemed to be a relief. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as a smile began to develop across his face.
“Are you?”
“If that’s what you wanna call it,”Bradley chuckled. “I call it having fun.”
“Well, I’ve never been with anybody but I’m a little curious” Melvin admitted.
“Well, you’d better not go public with this new found revelation and try to find somebody or you’ll be ruined in high school,” Bradley advised.
“Well,” Melvin wondered aloud. “Who have you been with then since you are such an expert?”
Melvin had suddenly become fascinated with this aspect of his friend Bradley’s life. This new revelation made him admire and idolize Bradley all the more. Over the period of a year’s time, Bradley had become the brother that Melvin had always wanted but never had. They had become inseparable but Melvin was almost insulted that Bradley had not revealed this insatiable secret about himself. Now, it seemed as if they had embarked upon a new beginning all together which only made their friendship solidify in a totally new aspect.
“If you tell this, I won’t ever speak to you again,” Bradley said plainly as he looked squarely into Melvin’s eyes to search for truth and understanding. “Plus, I’ll kick your ass from here to China!”
“Have I ever told any of our secrets?” Melvin questioned as he thought about all of the things they had secretly conspired to do together if it was nothing more than stealing an archenemy’s books and hiding them the day before a major
assignment was due.
“Did you ever know the Curbies from Fairhaven?” Bradley asked.
“I don’t know them very well,”Melvin admitted as his heart began to pound. Joshua Curbie and Jeremy Curbie were two brothers who occasionally attended Mt.Carmel in Fairhaven. Josh was tall, slender, and had a swimmer’s build. Jeremy was tall, stocky and had a football players build. Both were known in Fairhavenfor their athletic abilities. Both of them were honey yellow in complexion and both sported Jherri curls. Josh, by 1986, had enjoyed a very successful athletic career at Dyer County High School and had landed a football scholarship at GeorgiaTech Universityin Atlanta, Georgia. Jeremy, a much better athlete than Josh, was enjoying a wonderful senior year at Dyer County High School in Newbern, Tennessee whereas scouts from the NFL, NBA, and various colleges and universities courted his decision to play for their teams. Because Melvin had not really been athletically inclined, he never really hung out with either of them partially because both were jocks and because he was younger, they never shared much of the same interests.
“Well,” Bradley began as he recounted the night in question. “Last December, Momma dropped me off at the Curbies house while she and Trish Ann decided to go out.”
This was no surprise to anyone who knew Bradley’s family. His mother, Delores Kelly, was indeed a worldly woman in every sense of the word. It was no secret that she would leave Bradley at a relative or neighbor’s house for weeks at a time while she went on a party venge or “midnight rendezvous.” No one really knew where she went but many people had their own suspicions. A person does not leave home broke and return several days later with an uncertain amount of money. Delores did. Delores also dared anyone to “get into her business” for fear that she would stab the perpetrator. Delores was not an ugly woman but she was not pretty either. She would be considered common or plain in her looks. She seldom wore
clothing that made her appear to look feminine yet when she did wear them; she looked totally different and actually looked better than what she portrayed to the world on a daily basis. These ere the times that people did not know who she was. She loved Bradley but she only knew how to do nothing more than provide him with the mere basics… food, shelter, and always nice clothing. She actually treated Bradley more like a brother than her actual child. When people saw them
together, the mother-son relationship that they had established would definitely melt the heart of anyone who saw them together. Bradley never questioned what Delores did when she left for days at a time. He made up in his mind years ago not to even care. He figured that his mother had to do what she had to do in order to provide for him unlike his father.
Trish Ann Curbie was altogether a different story. Trish Ann’s house was in constant chaos. She was a tiny woman in stature who had a face that seemed as if it had been sculpted by the gods themselves. Many people had often questioned why she never chose modeling as an occupation. Unfortunately, Trish Ann, in all of her beauty, sometimes seemed like the village idiot in her logical approach to life, especially when choosing men. She had five children in which she raised alone.
When the opportunity presented itself, she attended Mt. Carmeland was one of the best singers that the choir had but she could not remain committed for long periods of time to the choir. By the age of fifteen, she had been impregnated with her first child by her high school sweet heart, Joshua Thomas Fields or J.T. as he was nicknamed. Trish Ann therefore named her first born after his father and the world was introduced to Joshua Allen Fields. J.T. had promised to marry Trish Ann after they graduated high school and she fell for the reasoning that he gave her. At the time, the United States was engage in the Vietnam War and J.T. had been drafted to serve his country. As time would have it, Trish Ann became pregnant with her second child soon before her eighteenth birthday and the world was introduced to Jeremy Alex Fields. J.T. was killed in action shortly after the birth of Jeremy. Grievously, Trish Ann then began dating James Beauregard “J.B.” Washington who provided her with yet another child in which they named James Beauregard Washington, Junior. After J.B. Junior was born, J.B., Senior decided that it was time for him to return home to his wife who lived in Lauderdale County. Heartbroken and distraught, Trish Ann then met King Davis Curbie. Mister “Kang” owned a store in Trenton, Tennessee and one in Fairhaven. Trish Ann was in heaven. She had finally met a man who loved her for beyond her physical beauty and actually was interested in her thoughts as well. King moved his new family to Trenton, adopted all of the children, and then married Trish Ann. King’s mother hated Trish Ann yet after the birth of Erica and Jessica, her first twins, the mother-in-law changed her tune somewhat. King gave Trish Ann every desire of her heart. Just when she felt that life was going great for herself, king was killed in a car accident coming home from the store one night. Heartbroken and distraught again, Trish Ann moved back to Dyer County; bought a double wide trailer in Fairhaven; and moved her family back there. Trish Ann abandoned the store that was located in Trenton and gave it to her mother-in-law while she half heartedly operated the store that King owned in Fairhaven.
Delores Kelly and Trish Ann Curbie had been best friends since grammar school and as adulthood settled they managed to maintain a friendship. On this particular autumn night, they had decided that they needed a break from being parents. They needed a “girl’s night out” in order to get away from the harsh realities of life. Because Josh was the eldest child, he was placed in charge of the care of all of the children. Since Bradley could take care of himself, he was ushered to
Trish Ann’s house for safe keeping until Delores returned. Josh always resented being placed in charge of the pack but he would always comply quickly or get a prompt and thorough beating from Trish Ann who, although short and petite, could
inflict the worse type of pain and punishment on any of her children at any time it was deemed necessary.
By the time Delores had pulled into Trish Ann’s driveway of her trailer, all of the children were asleep except for Josh who had been enlisted as the “baby-sitter.” Bradley begrudgingly walked up the steps as Trish Ann walked out. Delores had
turned the music inside of the car up and the sweet chords of “Misty Blue” rang out into the night and could be heard through ought the trailer. Fortunately, none of the sleeping children woke up.
“Well, what da ya wanna do?” Josh asked as the car sped off into the night with the two women cackling like schoolgirls.
“I don’t know,” Bradley said as he walked into the house and sat down on the sofa and began to stare aimlessly at the
television.
“You wanna drank of beer?” Josh asked as he went to the refrigerator door, opened it up, and rambled around inside of it until he found a bottle of Schlitz Malt Liquor beer.
“Naw, I’m all right,” Bradley said as he continued to stare aimlessly at the television.
“Hey, you wanna watch a tape?” Josh asked as he grabbed the remote to the television and VCR and then plopped down in a seat beside Bradley on the sofa.
“Sure,” Bradley said with such lack of enthusiasm that he could not wake a comatose person. Bradley had become bored with the entire interlude and was actually preparing his mind to go to sleep. He could, however, sense that something great was about to happen to him yet he could not put his finger on it. Secretly, he had a crush on Josh but Josh always seemed too preoccupied with girls and football. Over the years, he had made Josh his idol and secretly enjoyed the few
moments that he could spend with him on nights like this. Although Bradley was a few years younger than Josh, Josh had always made time for him as well as all of the other younger boys within the community. Now, however, Bradley had begun to feel weird in Josh’s presence. It was as if josh had begun to permeate a side of his soul that had been untapped.
Josh ran into his bedroom and retrieved a tattered video tape. He closed the bedroom door where a snoring Jeremy laid and a sleeping JB was opposite him in a second bed. In another bedroom, Josh peeped in to see the twins were also fast asleep. They were and he closed their bedroom door as well.
The video tape did not have a name on it. It looked ragged and well worn with time.
“You sure you can handle dis?” Josh asked as he placed the worn videotape into the VCR and then sat down immediately beside Bradley.
"Yeah,” Bradley lied.
Josh adjusted the television set’s volume whereas the two of them could vaguely hear the music and words that came from the video yet it would not disturb the sleeping children in the other rooms. Suddenly, a man appeared on the television
screen. The man was screwing the woman with such vigor until Bradley’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets in mere shock at what he was now viewing with his idol. He had heard about this type of video but had never seen one before.
Josh noticed that Bradley had become uncomfortable and suddenly a wicked smile appeared on his face.
“You sure you don’t want no beer?”Josh asked.
“Yeah,” Bradley replied as he continued to watch the video. His nerves had become unsettled and a bulge had begun to rise between his legs. The woman was moaning as the man had begun to pound her. This had really begun to unsettle Bradley. “I think I’ll have some.”
Josh stood up, went to the refrigerator, and grabbed the beer from within. He poured Bradley a glass and then refilled his own. He decided to bring the quart of beer to the sofa and sit it down on the coffee table nearby whereas they could drink as much as they liked at liberty.
He placed a glass of beer into Bradley’s hand. Bradley immediately gulped down several swallows before Josh could return to his seat next to him.
“Nervous?” Josh asked as he sat down much closer beside Bradley than he had previously been.
“Not really,” Bradley lied as he gulped down another sip of beer. A new scene appeared on the television screen. A woman had begun to suck the sex organ of the man who was obviously the star of the movie. Bradley kept his eyes glued to
the television set although his skin had begun to feel tingly.
“Damn,” Josh commented as he watched the television screen and then the reactions of Bradley. “Dat looks good,”
“Umm hmm,” Bradley commented as he took another large gulp of beer which, consequently, was his last.
“Slow down, man,” Josh growled.“Damn!”
“Sorry,” Bradley said nervously. “I just never saw a tape like this before.”
“Ah, it ain’t nothin’,” josh said as he poured more beer into Bradley’s glass. Bradley began to watch the movie now with greater interest. The star of the movie had one of the biggest organs he had ever seen in his life. It had begun
to fascinate him. Once again, the star had begun to slide his organ down the throat of yet another female.
“I bet dat feels real good,” Josh whispered as he slowly sipped his beer.
“Looks like it would hurt to me,”Bradley responded absently.
“How would you know?” Josh asked slyly. “Have you ever tried it?”
“No,” Bradley answered honestly.
“I bet you could suck a mean dick,”Josh said matter-of-factly.
A sweat broke out on Bradley’s forehead. He didn’t know what to do or what to say. He liked Josh and always had. Secretly, he had fantasized about what an experience would be like with Josh but never had he ever dreamed they would come into fruition. Now, josh was saying all of these things.
“Why, why, why would you say that?”Bradley stuttered as he nervously asked the question. For the first time during the entire conversation, Bradley noticed that Josh had a lump that was seemingly getting bigger between his legs.
“You got pretty lips,” Josh replied in a soft yet sexy whisper that really began to unnerve Bradley at this point.
“I,I,I, don’t know about all that,”Bradley said a bit nervous but attempting to make the conversation more interesting. “I’m sure you’ve seen prettier in you day, Mr. Athlete. Plus, I ain’t never done nothing like this before anyway.”
“Have you ever wanted to?” Josh asked.
This floored Bradley.
Hell yes he had wanted to. Many, many, many times before he had fantasized about Josh whenever he came over to Trish Ann’s house. Josh and Jeremy would be wrestling without shirts on. Both were terribly fine but Josh had always appealed to Bradley while Jeremy never quite did it for him. Josh was muscular but had a tight swimmer’s build. Jeremy, although slender as well, was also muscular but had more of a wrestler’s build somewhat like Muhammad Ali but just
taller.
He actually wanted to do this very thing that he saw on the video to Josh!
“I never thought about it,” Bradley lied. In truth, however, he had prayed for this moment for years and was taken back slightly because it was actually occurring. Now that the moment had finally come, Bradley had actually become
afraid.
"Do you like me, Brad?” Josh asked as he moved closer to Bradley.
“Yeah, you know I do, Josh,” Bradley confessed. “You used to be all of our hero when we were growing up but when you got to high school you changed and didn’t have time for us anymore.”
“It’s not that I didn’t have time for you,” Josh said as his hand began to move up Bradley’s leg and gently caress it. “I just been tryin’ hard to get me a scholarship to play ball somewhere and I gotta practice, dat’s all. You know I’ll always have time for y’all… especially you!”
“Oh,” Bradley said as he sipped his beer.
“Yeah,” Josh said as he began to move his hand upward toward Bradley’s sex organ. He gently caressed it which made it fully erect. Bradley wanted some type of relief because his sex was so hard until it was beginning to hurt him. Josh was beginning to say and do all of these things and the people on the video were really going at it now.
“Brad, would you do me a favor?”Josh asked.
“Sure, what?”
“Let me see your thang.”
Bradley almost lost his breath in shock and disbelief. Was hearing this right? Josh wanted to see his aching thang?
“Why?” Bradley managed to whisper.
“Just let me see it,” Josh demanded.
“O.K.” Bradley whispered as he slipped his pants and underwear down around his waist fully exposing his massive yet fully erect sex organ. Before he could say anything, Josh had completely engulfed Bradley’s sex organ within his warm and
moist lips. The impact of Josh’s lips around his sex sent Bradley into a state of shock and ecstasy at the same time. He had never before experienced this type of pleasure and it was good, good, good!
“You like dat?” Josh asked as he came up for air momentarily.
“Yea, yeah, yes,” Bradley moaned as he could barely whisper the words from his mouth.
“Pull your pants off and lie on your back completely then,” josh said as he began to try to pull Bradley’s pants off. Bradley resisted, however. Suddenly, fear struck him.
“What if somebody comes in here?”Bradley asked as his eyes began to slightly widen as the reality of his verbal thought came into perspective. He wondered just what would be said and possibly done if he and josh were caught in this act that the preacher so vehemently preached about on a regular basis.
“O.K.” Josh said. “Then let’s go to my room. I got a lock on my door.”
Bradley quickly pulled his underwear and pants up. Josh stood up, removed the video from the VCR and placed it in the back of his pants; grabbed the empty glasses and the slightly empty beer bottle; and proceeded into this bedroom. Bradley followed him.
Fairhaven, Tennesseewas located in the southeastern division of Dyer County, Tennessee. The population of Fairhaven was 3,000. Of that 3,000 people 850 were African American. The nearest town of any size was RoEllen, Trimble, or perhaps Newbern, Tennessee. All of the so mentioned cities paled in comparison to the county seat of Dyersburg – the city of 27,000 inhabitants. Dyersburg was a city that never had an accurate count of its African American citizens. The city itself had become famous for a trial of its sheriff and its judge. The scandals were so treacherous until even Dyer Countians were amazed. Dyersburg, the city that, unlike so many small southern cities, had two sides of town that traditionally housed African Americans – the Bruce Community (that had been named after Blanche Bruce, one of the first African American senators serving in U. S. Congress from the state of Mississippi from 1875 – 1881 during Reconstruction) which was located on the East side of Dyersburg and the Future City Community which was located on the West side of Dyersburg with uncertain boundaries for both. Like all other small towns within the region, Fairhavenchose Dyersburg as its model city while Dyersburg chose its neighboring cities of Jackson and Memphis as models due to the growth of these two cities.
The year was 1985.
It was Melvin’s first year at Dyersburg Middle School. Melvin had graduated from Fairhaven Elementary School that served children from grades K – 7. The children had the option to attend Dyer County School System or Dyersburg City
School System after seventh grade. Because Etta taught in the Dyer County School system and there were no private
schools in Fairhavenfor Melvin and his sisters, all of the James children were dutifully shipped to the Dyersburg City School System whereas Etta could remain partial in her judgment of educational growth of her children. As a teacher in the former system, she did not wish to become a hindrance to her children’s growth and development because she was an employee,
hence, the second system worked for her.
At first, Melvin was afraid to go to school in Dyersburg. He knew that transition was always hard yet it was always a necessary evil that one must face. Dyersburg Middle School was indeed much larger than Fairhaven Elementary School had been. The population of students at D.M.S. was at least three to four times larger than it had been at F.E.S. at Fairhaven, Melvin had been a star. He was not so certain about his popularity at Dyersburg Middle School.
Melvin had come to an age in his life when he realized that everything about him had begun to change. He no longer spoke in a high pitched and squeaky voice. He had begun to notice that hair had begun to sprout up in all types of places on his body… his legs, his arms, his arm pits, and even between his legs. He had also begun to realize that unlike some of his friends, he had little to no attraction to girls but had become keenly attracted to other boys. Some of his friends had
gone on to become athletes and they had begun to develop muscles in all of the right places. Melvin had overheard his older sisters talking about a “gay” boy at their school. He listened intently and soon realized that, just like the gay
boy in whom his sisters discussed so viciously, he had the same attraction to guys that the boy did in which they
discussed.
Melvin knew that it would be hard for him to hide his sexuality at Dyersburg Middle School because he knew that there were too many fine looking boys there. He had just begun to deal with and come to grips with who he was. He had come to terms with his sexuality after passing to the sixth grade. He realized that he was naturally attracted to boys rather than girls for some strange reason that he could not really put his finger on. It was just something about the male anatomy that really turned him on. He never revealed this secret to any one, however yet he accepted the fact that he must be gay like his
mother’s brother, Uncle Claiborne.
Uncle Claiborne lived in Atlanta and seldom came home to Fairhaven for anything! He did not even come home for funerals. If an immediate family member died, he would come home long enough to attend the wake and leave in the wee
hours of the night whereas he would miss the funeral completely yet there would always be an extremely ostentatious floral arrangement left amidst the other arrangements that always bore his insignia. At Christmas time, all of the
immediate relatives received exquisitely wrapped gifts from chic shops from around the world. Grandma Bertha always received several new dresses with matching hats, furs, and elegant jewelry. Gramps Jeremiah always received two
new suits with matching hats, ties, shirts, shoes, and socks. Etta always received a gift box containing the latest designer perfume while Clarence would receive a Persian sweater that he would never wear. Melvin’s sisters all received new dresses from the latest designer while Melvin was always presented with a trendy new suit, new pair of Nikes, and some type of new outfit that would not become popular within that corner of Tennesseeuntil the following year. Uncle Claiborne always sent lavish gifts but never his presence.
Time would eventually reveal its truth. Uncle Claiborne was able to make such lavish purchases each year because he was an extremely successful porn star and escort. His life afforded him a fabulous apartment in Los Angeles, a townhouse in New York City, a condo in Atlanta on the infamous Buford Highway, and a villa in Jamaica. Because of his occupation
and the risk that someone from Fairhaven might confront him, he alleviated the risk by never exposing himself to the town
gossip.
During locker assignment at Dyersburg Middle School, Melvin met Bradley Kelly.
Melvin had seen Bradley from afar growing up and while at church functions. Bradley was a member of Rock Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America that was the family owned and built church of the Smith-Kelly Clan. Rock Spring was located in RoEllen where Bradley was from. Occasionally, Rock Spring and Mt. Carmel would fellowship in the afternoons. Both Bradley and Melvin had been choir members which only made their meeting inevitable at some point in their lives.
As destiny would have it, they were now assigned locker partners.
Soon, they discovered that they had identical class schedules.
They were almost doomed to become friends or enemies.
They chose the former.
Bradley was athletic and had already begun to develop muscles. He wore a “whap” haircut. In 1983, this haircut was considered the bomb in West Tennessee. Kid and Play had made it famous in their movie. The haircut was simple, however. It provided the hair to be faded in the back and on the sides but the hair that remained on the top of the head was slanted to the right. Anyone who sported a “whap” would also sport, one, two, or three parts cut at varying lengths in the “whap.” Bradley had a smooth, milk chocolate complexion that seemed to permeate in the sunlight. When he chose to smile, which was often, he would warm you heart instantly. Somehow, a person would always feel at ease in his
presence.
At first glance, Melvin wanted him! Bradley was fine! There was indeed no doubt about that! However, after sharing a locker as well as classes with him for the entire school year, Melvin did not quite view Bradley in a romantic light any
further. Instead, Bradley became the brother that Melvin never had. He was witty and he didn’t mind speaking or sharing his opinion nor did he mind speaking up for himself and, occasionally, for Melvin as well. Bradley knew how to handle
himself in all situations. He was a “for sure” person who definitely had his act together.
Academically, Bradley’s grades matched Melvin’s. Melvin was a straight “A” student and enjoyed the academic challenges that Bradley would supply his mind at times.
It was by accident that Melvin discovered Bradley’s sexual preference.
The school year had soared by and had come to an end. After their fri4endship had developed and blossomed, they had become inseparable. They attended everything together. It was no surprise to see them together at church events, ball games, pep rallies, Student council meetings, school newspaper meetings, choir rehearsals, and any other activity scheduled for the middle school students. They even double dated from time to time. Melvin found this to be a little odd and silly because he knew within his own heart that he wasn’t attracted to girls. He also knew that he had to “save face” in order to be accepted in the community in which he came, so he, like Bradley, would go out on dates together.
On one particular day before the end of school, the two of them overheard a group of Caucasian boys discussing pledging SPO or Sigma Phi Omega Fraternity.
“Why don’t we have fraternities in high school?” Melvin asked Bradley.
“We do,” Bradley commented. “You haven’t gotten your letter yet?
“What letter?” Melvin asked.
“A group called Omega Phi Theta sent me a letter on yesterday,” Bradley said as he opened his back pack to retrieve the letter. He passed the crumpled letter to Melvin.
“I wonder why they didn’t send me one?” Melvin asked a little disappointed.
“Some guy asked me about it last week. He wanted to know if I knew of any other guys who would be interested in pledging his fraternity,” Bradley said quickly. “I gave them your name. You should get a letter today or tomorrow.”
“Do they pledge?”
“It’s a fraternity, Melvin, jeez.”
“I don’t know,” Melvin said softly.“They might ask us to do something wrong or something.”
“It’s not like they are gonna ask you to suck their dick or something.”
“That might be interesting,” Melvin said without thinking.
“Don’t I know it,” Bradley said as he looked away from Melvin as if he were reminiscing of some far and distant land.
“Would you do it?” Melvin asked curiously.
“It depends on who it is,” Bradley responded earnestly.
“Oh really?” Melvin commented as he attempted to lure Bradley into a long awaited question and answer. “You talk like you speak from experience or something.”
“I do,” Bradley commented.
“What?”
Melvin was astonished.
“Huh?”
Bradley said as he realized that he had revealed his secret. “Well, what’s wrong?”
“I’m just shocked,” Melvin confessed.
“Shocked about what?” Bradley asked.
“That you’ve done it,” Melvin commented earnestly. “I’ve always wanted to try it but I don’t really know nobody in Fairhaven.”
Bradley inhaled and released a long yet slow gush of air. He forgot that he often aimlessly drifted into a world of his own. Whenever he did this, the world became oblivious to him. Now, he had revealed a secret about himself. He did not
mind Melvin knowing but he was not always comfortable around Melvin. Melvin could sometimes have such a serene and peaceful aura about himself until Bradley felt that it was either angelic or judgmental. Now, Bradley was looking at his
best friend and openly declaring that he wanted or have had sex with another boy. This was becoming more sordid than Bradley ever anticipated. Here it was that Melvin lived a life whereas he managed to have everything. It was not so
with Bradley. He had to scuffle in order to help keep food on the table at times. He knew that his mother was an alcoholic. His father had been gone since he was six or seven. He could not quite remember. Through it all, though, he had
managed to keep his head held high. He soon found himself blessed to have become a friend of Melvin’s although Melvin could sometimes get on another level than where he was at.
Bradley looked into Melvin’s eyes.
Melvin actually lost the serenity about his aura and began to look rather pitiful in Bradley’s opinion.
“So, are you saying that you are gay or what?” Bradley questioned.
“I guess I am,” Melvin confessed in a manner that seemed to be a relief. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as a smile began to develop across his face.
“Are you?”
“If that’s what you wanna call it,”Bradley chuckled. “I call it having fun.”
“Well, I’ve never been with anybody but I’m a little curious” Melvin admitted.
“Well, you’d better not go public with this new found revelation and try to find somebody or you’ll be ruined in high school,” Bradley advised.
“Well,” Melvin wondered aloud. “Who have you been with then since you are such an expert?”
Melvin had suddenly become fascinated with this aspect of his friend Bradley’s life. This new revelation made him admire and idolize Bradley all the more. Over the period of a year’s time, Bradley had become the brother that Melvin had always wanted but never had. They had become inseparable but Melvin was almost insulted that Bradley had not revealed this insatiable secret about himself. Now, it seemed as if they had embarked upon a new beginning all together which only made their friendship solidify in a totally new aspect.
“If you tell this, I won’t ever speak to you again,” Bradley said plainly as he looked squarely into Melvin’s eyes to search for truth and understanding. “Plus, I’ll kick your ass from here to China!”
“Have I ever told any of our secrets?” Melvin questioned as he thought about all of the things they had secretly conspired to do together if it was nothing more than stealing an archenemy’s books and hiding them the day before a major
assignment was due.
“Did you ever know the Curbies from Fairhaven?” Bradley asked.
“I don’t know them very well,”Melvin admitted as his heart began to pound. Joshua Curbie and Jeremy Curbie were two brothers who occasionally attended Mt.Carmel in Fairhaven. Josh was tall, slender, and had a swimmer’s build. Jeremy was tall, stocky and had a football players build. Both were known in Fairhavenfor their athletic abilities. Both of them were honey yellow in complexion and both sported Jherri curls. Josh, by 1986, had enjoyed a very successful athletic career at Dyer County High School and had landed a football scholarship at GeorgiaTech Universityin Atlanta, Georgia. Jeremy, a much better athlete than Josh, was enjoying a wonderful senior year at Dyer County High School in Newbern, Tennessee whereas scouts from the NFL, NBA, and various colleges and universities courted his decision to play for their teams. Because Melvin had not really been athletically inclined, he never really hung out with either of them partially because both were jocks and because he was younger, they never shared much of the same interests.
“Well,” Bradley began as he recounted the night in question. “Last December, Momma dropped me off at the Curbies house while she and Trish Ann decided to go out.”
This was no surprise to anyone who knew Bradley’s family. His mother, Delores Kelly, was indeed a worldly woman in every sense of the word. It was no secret that she would leave Bradley at a relative or neighbor’s house for weeks at a time while she went on a party venge or “midnight rendezvous.” No one really knew where she went but many people had their own suspicions. A person does not leave home broke and return several days later with an uncertain amount of money. Delores did. Delores also dared anyone to “get into her business” for fear that she would stab the perpetrator. Delores was not an ugly woman but she was not pretty either. She would be considered common or plain in her looks. She seldom wore
clothing that made her appear to look feminine yet when she did wear them; she looked totally different and actually looked better than what she portrayed to the world on a daily basis. These ere the times that people did not know who she was. She loved Bradley but she only knew how to do nothing more than provide him with the mere basics… food, shelter, and always nice clothing. She actually treated Bradley more like a brother than her actual child. When people saw them
together, the mother-son relationship that they had established would definitely melt the heart of anyone who saw them together. Bradley never questioned what Delores did when she left for days at a time. He made up in his mind years ago not to even care. He figured that his mother had to do what she had to do in order to provide for him unlike his father.
Trish Ann Curbie was altogether a different story. Trish Ann’s house was in constant chaos. She was a tiny woman in stature who had a face that seemed as if it had been sculpted by the gods themselves. Many people had often questioned why she never chose modeling as an occupation. Unfortunately, Trish Ann, in all of her beauty, sometimes seemed like the village idiot in her logical approach to life, especially when choosing men. She had five children in which she raised alone.
When the opportunity presented itself, she attended Mt. Carmeland was one of the best singers that the choir had but she could not remain committed for long periods of time to the choir. By the age of fifteen, she had been impregnated with her first child by her high school sweet heart, Joshua Thomas Fields or J.T. as he was nicknamed. Trish Ann therefore named her first born after his father and the world was introduced to Joshua Allen Fields. J.T. had promised to marry Trish Ann after they graduated high school and she fell for the reasoning that he gave her. At the time, the United States was engage in the Vietnam War and J.T. had been drafted to serve his country. As time would have it, Trish Ann became pregnant with her second child soon before her eighteenth birthday and the world was introduced to Jeremy Alex Fields. J.T. was killed in action shortly after the birth of Jeremy. Grievously, Trish Ann then began dating James Beauregard “J.B.” Washington who provided her with yet another child in which they named James Beauregard Washington, Junior. After J.B. Junior was born, J.B., Senior decided that it was time for him to return home to his wife who lived in Lauderdale County. Heartbroken and distraught, Trish Ann then met King Davis Curbie. Mister “Kang” owned a store in Trenton, Tennessee and one in Fairhaven. Trish Ann was in heaven. She had finally met a man who loved her for beyond her physical beauty and actually was interested in her thoughts as well. King moved his new family to Trenton, adopted all of the children, and then married Trish Ann. King’s mother hated Trish Ann yet after the birth of Erica and Jessica, her first twins, the mother-in-law changed her tune somewhat. King gave Trish Ann every desire of her heart. Just when she felt that life was going great for herself, king was killed in a car accident coming home from the store one night. Heartbroken and distraught again, Trish Ann moved back to Dyer County; bought a double wide trailer in Fairhaven; and moved her family back there. Trish Ann abandoned the store that was located in Trenton and gave it to her mother-in-law while she half heartedly operated the store that King owned in Fairhaven.
Delores Kelly and Trish Ann Curbie had been best friends since grammar school and as adulthood settled they managed to maintain a friendship. On this particular autumn night, they had decided that they needed a break from being parents. They needed a “girl’s night out” in order to get away from the harsh realities of life. Because Josh was the eldest child, he was placed in charge of the care of all of the children. Since Bradley could take care of himself, he was ushered to
Trish Ann’s house for safe keeping until Delores returned. Josh always resented being placed in charge of the pack but he would always comply quickly or get a prompt and thorough beating from Trish Ann who, although short and petite, could
inflict the worse type of pain and punishment on any of her children at any time it was deemed necessary.
By the time Delores had pulled into Trish Ann’s driveway of her trailer, all of the children were asleep except for Josh who had been enlisted as the “baby-sitter.” Bradley begrudgingly walked up the steps as Trish Ann walked out. Delores had
turned the music inside of the car up and the sweet chords of “Misty Blue” rang out into the night and could be heard through ought the trailer. Fortunately, none of the sleeping children woke up.
“Well, what da ya wanna do?” Josh asked as the car sped off into the night with the two women cackling like schoolgirls.
“I don’t know,” Bradley said as he walked into the house and sat down on the sofa and began to stare aimlessly at the
television.
“You wanna drank of beer?” Josh asked as he went to the refrigerator door, opened it up, and rambled around inside of it until he found a bottle of Schlitz Malt Liquor beer.
“Naw, I’m all right,” Bradley said as he continued to stare aimlessly at the television.
“Hey, you wanna watch a tape?” Josh asked as he grabbed the remote to the television and VCR and then plopped down in a seat beside Bradley on the sofa.
“Sure,” Bradley said with such lack of enthusiasm that he could not wake a comatose person. Bradley had become bored with the entire interlude and was actually preparing his mind to go to sleep. He could, however, sense that something great was about to happen to him yet he could not put his finger on it. Secretly, he had a crush on Josh but Josh always seemed too preoccupied with girls and football. Over the years, he had made Josh his idol and secretly enjoyed the few
moments that he could spend with him on nights like this. Although Bradley was a few years younger than Josh, Josh had always made time for him as well as all of the other younger boys within the community. Now, however, Bradley had begun to feel weird in Josh’s presence. It was as if josh had begun to permeate a side of his soul that had been untapped.
Josh ran into his bedroom and retrieved a tattered video tape. He closed the bedroom door where a snoring Jeremy laid and a sleeping JB was opposite him in a second bed. In another bedroom, Josh peeped in to see the twins were also fast asleep. They were and he closed their bedroom door as well.
The video tape did not have a name on it. It looked ragged and well worn with time.
“You sure you can handle dis?” Josh asked as he placed the worn videotape into the VCR and then sat down immediately beside Bradley.
"Yeah,” Bradley lied.
Josh adjusted the television set’s volume whereas the two of them could vaguely hear the music and words that came from the video yet it would not disturb the sleeping children in the other rooms. Suddenly, a man appeared on the television
screen. The man was screwing the woman with such vigor until Bradley’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets in mere shock at what he was now viewing with his idol. He had heard about this type of video but had never seen one before.
Josh noticed that Bradley had become uncomfortable and suddenly a wicked smile appeared on his face.
“You sure you don’t want no beer?”Josh asked.
“Yeah,” Bradley replied as he continued to watch the video. His nerves had become unsettled and a bulge had begun to rise between his legs. The woman was moaning as the man had begun to pound her. This had really begun to unsettle Bradley. “I think I’ll have some.”
Josh stood up, went to the refrigerator, and grabbed the beer from within. He poured Bradley a glass and then refilled his own. He decided to bring the quart of beer to the sofa and sit it down on the coffee table nearby whereas they could drink as much as they liked at liberty.
He placed a glass of beer into Bradley’s hand. Bradley immediately gulped down several swallows before Josh could return to his seat next to him.
“Nervous?” Josh asked as he sat down much closer beside Bradley than he had previously been.
“Not really,” Bradley lied as he gulped down another sip of beer. A new scene appeared on the television screen. A woman had begun to suck the sex organ of the man who was obviously the star of the movie. Bradley kept his eyes glued to
the television set although his skin had begun to feel tingly.
“Damn,” Josh commented as he watched the television screen and then the reactions of Bradley. “Dat looks good,”
“Umm hmm,” Bradley commented as he took another large gulp of beer which, consequently, was his last.
“Slow down, man,” Josh growled.“Damn!”
“Sorry,” Bradley said nervously. “I just never saw a tape like this before.”
“Ah, it ain’t nothin’,” josh said as he poured more beer into Bradley’s glass. Bradley began to watch the movie now with greater interest. The star of the movie had one of the biggest organs he had ever seen in his life. It had begun
to fascinate him. Once again, the star had begun to slide his organ down the throat of yet another female.
“I bet dat feels real good,” Josh whispered as he slowly sipped his beer.
“Looks like it would hurt to me,”Bradley responded absently.
“How would you know?” Josh asked slyly. “Have you ever tried it?”
“No,” Bradley answered honestly.
“I bet you could suck a mean dick,”Josh said matter-of-factly.
A sweat broke out on Bradley’s forehead. He didn’t know what to do or what to say. He liked Josh and always had. Secretly, he had fantasized about what an experience would be like with Josh but never had he ever dreamed they would come into fruition. Now, josh was saying all of these things.
“Why, why, why would you say that?”Bradley stuttered as he nervously asked the question. For the first time during the entire conversation, Bradley noticed that Josh had a lump that was seemingly getting bigger between his legs.
“You got pretty lips,” Josh replied in a soft yet sexy whisper that really began to unnerve Bradley at this point.
“I,I,I, don’t know about all that,”Bradley said a bit nervous but attempting to make the conversation more interesting. “I’m sure you’ve seen prettier in you day, Mr. Athlete. Plus, I ain’t never done nothing like this before anyway.”
“Have you ever wanted to?” Josh asked.
This floored Bradley.
Hell yes he had wanted to. Many, many, many times before he had fantasized about Josh whenever he came over to Trish Ann’s house. Josh and Jeremy would be wrestling without shirts on. Both were terribly fine but Josh had always appealed to Bradley while Jeremy never quite did it for him. Josh was muscular but had a tight swimmer’s build. Jeremy, although slender as well, was also muscular but had more of a wrestler’s build somewhat like Muhammad Ali but just
taller.
He actually wanted to do this very thing that he saw on the video to Josh!
“I never thought about it,” Bradley lied. In truth, however, he had prayed for this moment for years and was taken back slightly because it was actually occurring. Now that the moment had finally come, Bradley had actually become
afraid.
"Do you like me, Brad?” Josh asked as he moved closer to Bradley.
“Yeah, you know I do, Josh,” Bradley confessed. “You used to be all of our hero when we were growing up but when you got to high school you changed and didn’t have time for us anymore.”
“It’s not that I didn’t have time for you,” Josh said as his hand began to move up Bradley’s leg and gently caress it. “I just been tryin’ hard to get me a scholarship to play ball somewhere and I gotta practice, dat’s all. You know I’ll always have time for y’all… especially you!”
“Oh,” Bradley said as he sipped his beer.
“Yeah,” Josh said as he began to move his hand upward toward Bradley’s sex organ. He gently caressed it which made it fully erect. Bradley wanted some type of relief because his sex was so hard until it was beginning to hurt him. Josh was beginning to say and do all of these things and the people on the video were really going at it now.
“Brad, would you do me a favor?”Josh asked.
“Sure, what?”
“Let me see your thang.”
Bradley almost lost his breath in shock and disbelief. Was hearing this right? Josh wanted to see his aching thang?
“Why?” Bradley managed to whisper.
“Just let me see it,” Josh demanded.
“O.K.” Bradley whispered as he slipped his pants and underwear down around his waist fully exposing his massive yet fully erect sex organ. Before he could say anything, Josh had completely engulfed Bradley’s sex organ within his warm and
moist lips. The impact of Josh’s lips around his sex sent Bradley into a state of shock and ecstasy at the same time. He had never before experienced this type of pleasure and it was good, good, good!
“You like dat?” Josh asked as he came up for air momentarily.
“Yea, yeah, yes,” Bradley moaned as he could barely whisper the words from his mouth.
“Pull your pants off and lie on your back completely then,” josh said as he began to try to pull Bradley’s pants off. Bradley resisted, however. Suddenly, fear struck him.
“What if somebody comes in here?”Bradley asked as his eyes began to slightly widen as the reality of his verbal thought came into perspective. He wondered just what would be said and possibly done if he and josh were caught in this act that the preacher so vehemently preached about on a regular basis.
“O.K.” Josh said. “Then let’s go to my room. I got a lock on my door.”
Bradley quickly pulled his underwear and pants up. Josh stood up, removed the video from the VCR and placed it in the back of his pants; grabbed the empty glasses and the slightly empty beer bottle; and proceeded into this bedroom. Bradley followed him.
