Jerry wakes up Saturday morning and decides to roll over and sleep a while longer. It feels good to not have to get up. This is the first weekend he's spent in Des Moines since moving here four weeks ago. He has no plans for the day and he doesn't care. Today, he doesn't have to do a damned thing.
Sitting in his chair, enjoying his coffee, his mind drifts back to the past week's events. Two days ago he started listening to his body. A week ago he was in a deep depression. He feels more comfortable now after allowing himself to let go of some of his inhibitions. He tells himself he will not allow himself to get that depressed again. He still has his fears, but they don't bother him now like they did last week.
Drinking his last sip of coffee, he decides it's time to get on with the day. He takes his coffee cup into the kitchen, putting it in a sink filled with dirty dishes. He doesn't have very many dishes, but every one of them is in the sink, dirty. The whole kitchen is a filthy mess.
Walking into the living room, he sees little messes everywhere. The bathroom is just as filthy as his kitchen. He realizes living in this dirty apartment is one of the reasons he's been feeling so depressed the past few weeks. He decides cleaning his apartment would be the best thing he can do to today improve the way he feels.
After taking a bath and getting dressed, he heads into the kitchen to start cleaning. Right off the bat, he has a problem. Typical bachelor, he has no cleaning products. Not even a broom. The only thing he has is a bottle of dish soap by the sink. A shopping trip is in order. His food supply is also low, so he makes a list and heads off to the grocery store.
His first step outside reminds him that it is early February in Iowa. The minus-four-degree temperature reminds him how much he misses California. Sitting in his car, freezing his ass off waiting for the engine to warm up, his thoughts drift back to California.
Everything seemed so right for him there. He misses it a lot. His Army buddy told him in a letter if ever wanted to return to California he was welcome to stay with him until he got settled. The offer seemed very inviting to him when he read it two weeks ago. Jerry has an escape hatch in case things get unbearable in Iowa.
The car now warmed up, Jerry drives to the grocery store. He freezes his ass when he gets out of the car. He runs into the store as fast as he can. Once inside the warm store, Jerry feels a new spring in his step. He doesn't feel depressed like he has been on previous trips. It doesn't take long to collect all the items on his list and check out. He freezes his ass off again as he puts his bags in the car and drives back home.
Back at the apartment, he grabs a quick bite to eat and starts his cleaning project. It is depressing at first looking at that dirty kitchen. He can't believe what a slob he's been. Day after day, he never noticed how dirty he was letting things get. He starts by doing the dishes and cleaning the sink area. Next, he goes to work on the greasy stove and soon it looks as good as the sink. When he finishes the floor he stands back to admire how good it looks now.
He moves to the bathroom, which is just as bad as his kitchen was. He finds enjoyment in cleaning everything just a little bit better than it has to be. Before long, he has the tub, sink, and toilet shining like new. He puts his cleaning supplies away under the sink and feels proud of what he has done. A fresh scent of pine fills the apartment, reminding him how clean it is now.
After picking up the living room, Jerry feels tired and needs a rest after cleaning for five hours. He decides to watch TV for a while until it is time to start cooking dinner. He lays on the couch for about an hour when he hears a familiar knock on the door. He knows it is Roger. He answers the door with anticipation this time instead of dread.
"Hi Roger, I thought that might be you. I didn't expect to see you today."
"How's it going, Jerry? I was driving by the building and saw your car parked on the street, so I thought I'd stop and see if you were home."
"Yeah, I'm here. I decided to spend the weekend in town for a change. C'mon in."
They walk over to the couch at sit down close to each other.
"It smells like someone has been cleaning."
"Yeah. The place was getting pretty bad. I had to do something about it. I just finished up about an hour ago actually."
"Well, it looks great. There's nothing like a clean house to make you feel
good."
"Yeah, not to mention other things that make you feel good too."
They both laugh in agreement as they start touching each other.
"Speaking about that, I haven't been able to stop thinking about the last time I was here. I've been wondering if you still wanted me to come over."
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it quite a bit too. I feel a lot better about it now. I've been thinking how I'd like to do it again."
"I was hoping you felt that way. Because I feel like that too."
Jerry doesn't mind this time when Roger puts his hand on the inside of his thigh as he talks. After a while, he even puts his hand on Roger's leg as a symbol of acceptance. They enjoy a pleasant conversation while teasing and touching each other's cock through their pants.
Roger comes up with a suggestion.
"Say, do remember the other night when I was telling about that rock band playing in town? You didn't want to go because it was a work night"
"Yeah, I remember."
"How would you like to go see them tonight? It's not a work night."
"Right now? It's getting close to dinner time. I haven't eaten yet."
"I know. I could eat something myself. Why don't we leave now, get a bite to eat, and then go down to the club?"
Jerry thinks about it for a moment, he can't think of a reason why not.
"Sure, I think I'd like that. I have to change my clothes first."
Jerry gets up to head to the closet and Roger follows right behind him. As Jerry is changing his shirt, Roger unbuckles his belt.
"Do you mind if I help?" he says with a devilish grin. He gets down on his knees, unzips Jerry's pants, pulling them down to his knees along with his underwear. He takes Jerry's cock into his mouth sucks it with deep, heavy strokes until he hears Jerry start to moan. He lets the cock out of his mouth, stands up, and says,
"I just had to get a little appetizer before we left."
Jerry smiles, finishes dressing, and the two men are out the door.
Roger drives to a part of town Jerry has never been before and pulls into the parking lot of a nice-looking restaurant. Once inside, Jerry can see this is a classier place than he is used to. They enjoy an excellent meal together along with some pleasant conversation. When they leave, Roger picks up the bill, refusing to let Jerry pay for any of it.
Back in the car, Jerry tells Roger,
"Thank you very much for dinner, Roger. That may have been the best meal I've ever had."
"It's amazing how great food can make a person feel so good. I'm ready to enjoy the rest of this night. How 'bout you?"
"You bet."
"Just one more thing," says Roger, "Call me Rog."
Jerry laughs, "Sure thing... Rog."
A few minutes later, they are on a dimly lit road with only a few businesses on it. Roger slows down. Jerry sees a small neon sign with the name "The Mixx" on it and an arrow pointing to the right. As Roger turns on the narrow road, a medium-sized building comes into view with a parking lot half-filled with cars. Roger pulls into a parking place.
He notices Jerry looking around, wondering where he is. He assures Jerry, "This club is kinda like a well-kept secret. Not a lot of people even know it's here, but the people who come here are always friendly. I think you'll like it."
Once inside, Jerry soon realizes why it was a well-kept secret. It is about seven o'clock and the place is maybe one-third full of people. There is a mixture of men and women, but definitely more men. Jerry notices right off that the men and women are not sitting with each other. All the couples are same-sex couples. Roger has brought him to a queer bar.
He gets nervous at first, but decides to relax and go with the flow. After all, he is here with a man himself.
As they sit down at a table, Roger moves his chair close to Jerry's. When the waitress comes over to take their order, they both order beers.
Roger asks her, "What time does the band start playing?"
"They'll be starting at nine," she replies
"Oh, I thought they started at eight."
"They start at eight on Thursday and Friday, but on Saturday, they start an hour later because we stay open an hour later," the waitress tells him.
"OK... Thanks."
As the waitress walks off, Roger turns to Jerry,
"I didn't know the band started later on Saturday, I wasn't planning on staying here that long."
"Oh, That's ok. We don't have to stay that long if you don't want to."
The waitress brings their beers and they start talking about this and that, but Jerry isn't paying too much attention. He is busy surveying the new surroundings he finds himself in.
It's not real fancy, but it does feel comfortable. There is a small band stage with a medium-sized dance floor in front of it. The jukebox is playing the new Doobie Brothers hit song and two girls get up to dance with each other. He feels Rog's hand slide into the inside of his thigh, he smiles and takes a sip from his beer.
It isn't long before he hears a voice shouting from across the room,
"Hey Rog! How's it going?"
"Allen! What's going on?"
Jerry sees a slim man walk toward their table. He is a little taller than Jerry, but not quite as slim. When he gets to the table, Roger gets up to greet him. They embrace in a light hug as they shake hands.
"Allen, I'd like you to meet Jerry. Jerry, this is my friend Allen. We've known each other a few years."
Jerry gets up to shake his hand. He admires Allen's long, light brown shoulder-length hair pulled back into a ponytail. Jerry wants his hair to grow long, he hasn't cut it since he got out of the Army, but it isn't nearly as long as Allen's.
"So, Allen, what are you up to tonight?" said Roger.
"Oh, not much. I'm just hanging out, having a few beers on Saturday night."
"Pull up a chair and join us"
"Thanks. I think I will."
"Jerry's new in town. He got out of the Army a few months ago and moved to Des Moines a few weeks ago."
Allen says to Jerry, "Ain't it nice being out of the military? I got out of the Navy three years ago and haven't missed it at all."
Jerry smiles and nods in agreement.
The three men talk and drink their beers. Jerry is enjoying the conversation. This is a pleasant change from his usual dull routine. Roger continues to caress Jerry's thigh under the table, unashamed if anyone happens to notice. After a few minutes, Roger gets up,
"Can you gentlemen excuse me for a minute? I have to hit the bathroom and make a quick phone call."
Roger gets up to do his business, leaving Jerry and Allen by themselves.
Allen begins a new conversation, "What did you do in the Army?"
"I played drums in the Army Band."
"In Washington D.C.?"
"No, not the big band. I was stationed in Monterrey, California."