MC-6033 War and the Man-Lovers

Excerpt

There’d been a severe thunderstorm that second night of Uncle Harold’s stay, and Ted, to his own guilty shame, hadn’t been able to sleep. He’d got up in his pajamas and went to the kitchen under the pretext of getting a snack, but really to quiet his nerves down. And Uncle Harold had been out there in his bathrobe, doing his own foraging.

“You as scared as I am, Teddy?” he’d chuckled, and put his arm around Ted’s waist.

“A little, Uncle Harold,” he’d confessed.

“That’s being honest, boy. It’s a good trait in a man. You know, anyone would take you for a man right now, even if you’re only fourteen. You’re tall and rangy, good bones, a nice fair complexion without those miserable pimples adolescents are supposed to get. I bet the girls at school are crazy about you.”

And he’d blushed and shaken his head. “Aw, Uncle Harold, now you’re kidding me. I wouldn’t date, I’m too young. Besides, I don’t much care for girls.”