Cancun was an artificial environment, a total tourist venue built up several miles along the coastline below the Port of Juarez. The big attraction was the beach, which ran along the Nichupte Lagoon to the port and dissolved into the wilds of the Yucatan Peninsula. North and west there were dozens of small costal villages all the way to Vera Cruz, a regular sailor's paradise.

The Spanish had landed there centuries ago, stories of pirates and shipwrecks abounded and the inevitable tropical storms often lashed the coast. The latter Gary was hoping to avoid, but the lagoon offered some protection if they stayed alert and had to seek shelter.

They could sail into Juarez and get the necessary tourist visa papers needed for their visit. Mexico always welcomed a few Yankee dollars and Cancun had become a mecca for North American tourism. It was time to set the trip in motion, there were already tropical depressions working off the African coast.

Jerry seemed excited to be repeating the trip. Finally he was an expert at something and his attitude was contagious. Chris listened to the descriptions of the beaches, hotels and jungles; it was all so new and exciting to the novice. Luggage was stowed and Gary walked through some basics on the boat. The boys looked bored but he was determined to go over it all very carefully, their lives depended on it.

This rope did that, that winch was for this purpose...stuff they both seemed to already know. The very nature of deep water sailing was fraught with danger; it was part of the mystique. For this adventure the boys would be a willing crew. Emergencies would happen but they would be minor if everything was handled well.

The Gulf of Mexico was pretty much a large pond to someone who had traveled the world. The Brass Balls and many others like it had sailed longer distances, even circumnavigating the globe. The Yucatan was the closest point Mexico had to Cuba, their communist neighbors.

Gary had encountered Cuban Navy elements on previous trips and had no desire to experience that again. They were nosy at the worst of times and of little consequence the rest of the time. Someday it would be nice to visit Havana and view the faded glory of that former western playground. Maybe after that cigar smoking leader was gone.

Max and Shelby saw them off at the dock, offering their best wishes and a bon voyage. The cute dock boys cast them off and Gary motored to the outer buoy where they set the sails and headed west with a favorable wind at their backs.

Chris stayed close, watching everything Gary did and asking questions. Jerry had shed his clothes to lie in the sun. They had to admire the show, Jerry was a born nudist. Gary wouldn't need the boys until it was time to shift the sails and tack. Later they could rig some fishing poles and see what was out there for supper. Teaching Chris what was good and safe to eat from the sea was all part of the lesson.

Gary had learned his sailing skills at an early age. He had thrilled at the wind and waves, capsized a few times and learned from it. The ocean held no fear in his mind, just an abiding caution of how powerful nature could be. To that end he once again showed Chris how to access the navigation programs, the national weather reporting system and where the emergency bands were on the radio.

There was an inflatable raft in the stern locker, an emergency radio beacon and rations. Chris took in all the comments with a calm thoughtful expression. He would do well if needed. Jerry already knew these things, but the forecast showed a tropical depression developing into a storm in the far southern Caribbean. Too far away to affect them at the moment, in twenty-four hours it might be different.

By dawn tomorrow they would be far across the Gulf, reaching for the shores of Mexico. Gary planned to take the watch on deck tonight and let the boys sleep. Since it promised to be a clear and pleasant day he knew the night sky would be beautiful. Chris finally joined Jerry on the cushions, shedding his clothes in the process. Two lean bodies napping in the sun.

Gary gazed at the boys for a while. Such different creatures but they looked so much alike in many ways. Jerry had always been an exciting lover and he would make someone a nice partner someday. Chris was like a rare flower about to bloom, and Gary thrilled at the expectation of what lay ahead. Max was right as usual, he was a very lucky man.

The boys woke up after an hour or so, they would need sunscreen if they continued to lie there like that. Gary watched as they covered themselves and did each other's back. The boy's conversation was light until Chris spotted another boat. Jerry went into the locker and got out a pair of binoculars.

"Is it the Coast Guard?" Chris asked.

"Nope, just a big yacht," Jerry replied.

Chris stared through the glasses for a while and lost interest. He swept the horizon and saw a few smudges of other boats out in the distance. Jerry told him they were fishing boats, each holding a load of tourists. That seemed to interest them and the boys rigged a few poles off the stern, trailing lures below the water line. Not much would be interested at their high rate of speed. If there was anything for dinner down there Gary would have to slow the boat down.

He went forward to make sure everything was lashed down tight. Things had a way of coming loose as the boat moved. About that time one of the fishing lines sang out, they had a catch. Jerry went forward to the mast and cranked on a winch, spilling some of their wind. The pole was bending almost in half, this was a big one. They all took turns fighting the fish but it never broke the surface. After ten minutes it finally came swimming up from the depths.

"Sand shark," Gary said. "They fight real well, don't they? But we have to cut him loose."

Jerry got the cutters and snipped the line. No way were they going to pull a mad shark into the boat. Chris had watched the whole thing with awe, the shark had been small but that was still a pretty big fish in his eyes. Jerry explained about the various poisonous ones found in the waters around here. Gary was glad the boy remembered the lecture from last summer.

They restrung the line, tying on a new lure and setting the pole back in place. Gary went forward and tightened the sails, arriving back just in time to hear Chris ask Jerry a question.

"What made you decide you were gay?"

Jerry looked up and Gary smiled, giving him a nod. "I didn't know what I liked. The first time I had sex it was rape."

Chris gasped and looked over at Gary who nodded...it was true.

"Yeah, I was a dumb kid," Jerry admitted. "I was fourteen and still pretty innocent, but I was kinda sure about the gay thing by then. It was stupid, my fault it happened. I got picked up by some guy who took me to his house." Jerry grinned. "So hitch hiking can be dangerous, you got lucky." Chris nodded, still in shock.

"So he made me blow him, and then proceeded to tie me up and rape me. I screamed my head off but no one heard a thing. It was bad, it hurt...he didn't give a shit. He just said little gay boys needed to be fucked...."

"That's about enough of that," Gary said. "Jerry was very lucky."

"Yeah, I am. My parents would have blamed me."

"I'm sorry you got hurt," Chris said.

"Thanks," Jerry said. "I had sex with a few boys after that, got beat up a few times for being a fag...but still decided I liked being gay. And then I met Gary who took me off the street and gave me my life back."

"But if you had all that why did you go away?" Chris asked.

"It sure wasn't Gary's fault, he's never been anything but...I still love him, Chris...I always will. You're very lucky to be in his heart, he'll take care of you like no one else ever will. But I wanted my family back...it was all so stupid. Gary gave me everything and I walked away."

Jerry turned away, looking out over the water and Chris knew he was crying. It was a sad moment; there was nothing Gary could do to change that. Chris got up and put his arms around Jerry's neck, it was such a wonderful gesture.

Gary walked over and sat down beside them. "It's hard to be young and gay, Chris. Jerry has his own life now, but coming back to me isn't what he wants either. He wants to go out there and find someone, to make that discovery himself. It's all a part of growing up and becoming a man."

Jerry nodded as Gary continued. "I'm older so it's hard for Jerry to feel equal in a relationship with me. He wants to be grown up. He feels like an adult already, I get that. If anything I encouraged him in that direction, I wanted him to take charge of his life. He has the skills, he just needs to find someone willing...and he will."

"Soon I hope," Jerry said, wiping the tears from his face. He patted Chris on the arm. "Thanks, you're sweet. No wonder Gary cares about you."

"I care about him too…I think its love," Chris said, admitting that for the first time.

Gary tried not to show his surprise, but he knew Chris had been thinking about it…them.

"Well he's easy to love, being gay is the hard part," Jerry said. "I didn't know you'd discovered those feelings yet?"

Chris sat down with a thump. "I don't know what I am anymore."

Okay, now. Maybe this had gone far enough for one chat on this delicate subject, Gary didn't want Chris upset. But it seems he wasn't.

"It would be so much easier to understand what I feel about Gary if I was gay...maybe I am and just don't know it. Is that possible?"

"You don't have any other experiences to tell you," Jerry said. "I went through that too. I've never been with a girl, I don't ever remember wanting to."

"I never spent much time thinking about girls...well, like having sex with one does have me curious, but it isn't like I think about it all the time," Chris said, and then he smiled. "Gary kinda got my attention pretty quick."

"Chris, you don't have to feel pressured to decide anything," Gary said.

"No, I get that...but what if I am gay? It would explain a lot."

"You've had other feelings?" Jerry asked.

"Yeah...I guess so, but I didn't know they were sexual. I had guy friends, you know, my age...we never did anything like sex but I used to see things about them I liked. Like Terry has a cute butt, Andy has a big cock...stuff like that."

"Doesn't mean you wanna have sex with them," Jerry said. "Did you ever jerk off and think of one of your guy friends?"

Chris blushed and nodded. "Yeah, I saw Andy's cock and was like 'Whoa,' I wanted to see him make cum but I never did. I'm afraid my first and only sex experience was too much like yours."

"Yeah, that doesn't help you decide. You don't have to worry about it. If you are that's great, if not well...no pressure to decide I suppose," Jerry said. He turned to look at Gary. "What's for lunch?"

"Powdered eggs on toast," Gary said and both boys groaned.

That whole conversation rattled around in Gary's head as he made soup and sandwiches for lunch. Chris was working on his issues but Jerry had really been amazing, he had opened up and been supportive. At least now Chris understood where Jerry had been in life. By admitting he could be in love meant Chris wanted their relationship to grow closer. Too much thinking about that would bring on a headache.

They ate under the awning at the stern, watching the birds and yachts around them. At some point they had sailed into the popular fishing zone of the week. Fish moved and fishermen tracked them down. Still, they were pretty far from land out here and those guys would be going back pretty soon if they wanted to make landfall before supper.

They sailed on beyond the clusters of boats, heading west. Gary would have to tack soon to keep them heading south. Cuba loomed some two hundred miles away and they would be heading right at it for a while. The fishing line zinged out again.

At deep levels there were grouper and bass, even the occasional albacore tuna if you were lucky. Chris had latched on to a tuna, a rare find for a guy with a simple pole. But the fish gave him a fight, and again they took turns wearing the damn thing down. The wire reel is a tough one to work, but it held until the fish got close. Jerry grabbed the gaff, he was determined they weren't going to lose this one, and what a baby it was.

Chris couldn't believe his eyes when this monster fish finally appeared, it was probably six feet long and weighed more than he did. Gary managed to haul it in close and Jerry got the gaff in its gills, but there was no way to haul it up into the boat. The boys held on as Gary dropped the sails and then took the gaff from Jerry's hands. The fish was still very willing to fight even as it was held up against the stern of the boat.

Jerry removed the cushions and tossed them forward. Then he leaned over the rail and tried in vain to grab the fish's tail, it would have been too slippery for a good hold even if he could latch on. The fish battered its body against the stern while trying to break free.

Jerry laughed. "Maybe we ought to carve it up right there in the water."

"I don't want to hurt it," Chris said, then suddenly realizing how silly that sounded. "How can we kill it?"

Jerry took the gaff and Gary reached in the stern locker under the raft and pulled out a short barbed rod on a wooden pole. Harpoons they used to call them. He'd bought it on a whim to go with the emergency supplies.

"Don't get squeamish on me," Gary said, "This is gonna get messy." And he rammed the point right into the fish's head. Result, one dead fish. Now they could run a rope around its tail and winch it aboard, problem solved...well, except someone had to clean the fish. God, what a mess.

Chris looked like he was sorry they had caught the fish, but soon the carcass was tossed overboard to the sharks and they had a healthy pile of tuna steaks in a bucket. Jerry washed down the deck while Chris carried the slabs below to the galley. Gary washed and dried the steaks, and put half of it in the freezer. That left their diner soaking in brine. It was sad; they did have to throw some of it away. But who knew Chris would catch such a mighty fish?

After that it was time to wash off before they started to stink. Jerry hauled out the bucket as Gary got them back on course. Wet naked boys are so much fun which allowed Gary to enjoy their antics until it was his turn. Both brats watched him undress, giggling the whole time and whispering comments he chose to ignore.

"He does have a nice ass," Jerry said.

"Yeah, he carries it well," Chris said, cracking them both up.

But Chris managed to be himself, washing Gary's back and a few other parts. Jerry sat back to watch the performance, and Gary remembered they had never showered together. A shame, it was something he enjoyed sharing with Chris.

Chris looked at Gary's body, shook his head and then he turned to Jerry. "I don't know how you did it."

"It's almost eight inches long, I measured it once," Jerry said. "I was already open by the time Gary got there, but it still took my breath away."

Gary didn't know what to say so he just stood back and listened.

"My hole is too small, he would split me open," Chris said.

"So start smaller and work your way up...one finger, two and so on. I used bananas and cucumbers when I started; cock is so much nicer…"

The navigation program beeped, giving Gary an excuse to stop listening. They were drifting a bit too far south. It was time to tack once again. Gary allowed the boys to swing the boom over until they were headed west again, moving away from Cuba which would have appeared as a smudge on the horizon at any moment. It felt better to be aimed at Mexico.

The distraction meant they left the sex talk behind for the moment. Gary knew it would never be far from the surface, there were too many issues cooking in Chris' head. But they had dinner ahead, the boys could watch a few videos before sacking out and it wouldn't be dark until nine or so. Gary did his nightly walk around the boat as the boys went below.

Jerry returned to the deck a few minutes later. "Chris wants to cook dinner, can he handle that?" He asked.

"Lord knows, I never ate his cooking before. I was joking you know."

"Well you better get down there, he's serious. I'll keep watch."

Gary went down the ladder and found Chris rinsing the tuna. "Should we batter and bake it? You don't have a grill handy, at least not that I know about."

"Bake yes, batter no. A little basil and lemon juice, that's all it needs. You can batter any white fish but never tuna, okay?" Gary said.

"Hmm...I learn something new about you every day, you're a cook."

Gary smiled. "I have my bad days too, you'll find out. Now you know why I let Max cook when I'm home."

"Okay, you wanna watch me to see if I do it right?"

"I just want to watch you...period," Gary said. That got him a kiss.

Chris was a serious cook, choosing veggies and rice to go with their meal. The tuna broiled nicely in the oven and Chris combined the rice and vegetables. Having someone else cook was a treat. Gary didn't really mind the cooking but whenever possible he left that to others.

With dinner over Gary went up on deck and sat back in his captain's chair with a book in hand, another John Grisham novel. Jerry appeared at his side with a joint in hand and Gary waved him off. No way would he get involved...let the boys have their fun. By tomorrow night they would be in Mexican waters and the weed would be thrown overboard.

Jerry went below and Chris climbed up. "You all set for the night?" He asked.

"Sure am. We'll have a beautiful sunset and then a billion stars will come out," Gary said. He gave Chris a smile. "I'll be fine, you go enjoy yourself."

Chris leaned down and kissed him, and then Gary watched him go back below deck. This is what he loved the most. The sea, the wide open sky and a beautiful boy to call his own, a man couldn't ask for anything better. The phone squawked ten minutes later and Gary knew it was Max.

"Hey you," Gary answered.

"Having a good time on the high seas?"

"We caught a big old tuna this afternoon, that's what we had for dinner tonight," Gary said.

"Sounds good. Hey, I got hold of Tommy, he's gonna check out the momma."

"Good, sooner the better.

"That tropical storm is kicking up dust east of you, might head towards the Yucatan by the end of the week which gives you a few days to prepare."

"Thanks Max, I've been following that...we'll be in Cancun day after tomorrow, long before it's an issue."

"How's the crew doing?"

"Uh...probably watching my porn collection...nothing like a healthy happy crew they say."

"Oh...you're a smooth one," Max laughed.

"Yeah, that's me. I'll be stalking cute Mexican boys for Jerry any day now, wish me luck."

"If they're under twenty-one you won't need any luck. He does need an older guy but not too old. So ta ta, stay in touch."

"Yes, Max...thanks for the call."

"Later." And they hung up.

The light was fading fast; it would be dark in an hour. Chris popped back on deck with a mug of tea, a sweet gesture.

"Sure you don't need me to stay up here with you?" Chris asked.

"No sweetie, you guys get some sleep. I'll sleep a bit tomorrow and you guys can keep us safe."

"You worry about us, don't you...I mean me and Jerry?"

"Yes, you're worth worrying about, I always stand an overnight watch with boys on board."

"I feel safe with you, Gary."

"And you're worth protecting. Now go get some sleep so I don't have a grumpy crew tomorrow." Another kiss and Chris was off to bed.

Gary rigged the running lights for the night. The radar showed no traffic nearby and he reset the warning buzzer to make sure it worked. A follow up report on the storm track showed it was approaching the Dominican Republic but still not upgraded to a hurricane.

If it swung north it would batter Cuba and maybe hit the Florida Keys, poor Max and Shelby. But they had enough sense to evacuate if necessary. They would be out of the way down here. Of course it could head west and they would be right in its path.

Notoriously undecided these storms...and it still had a lot of water to cross. It might be a level two by the time it hit the Yucatan, that would be bad...very bad, especially for the boat.

But that was a worry for tomorrow, or the next day. Gary wasn't going to turn back at any rate...that would be very foolish. Boats are always insured, people were too, but not these boys. No he was their protection...and maybe all else they had at this stage of life.

Night fell, bam, it was dark. The horizon was water; it was like the sun had drowned. Gary settled in his chair and opened the book. It was bedtime below decks and he would give anything to snuggle up to Chris. He read six chapters before he knew it, this author really kept him going. He peed over the side and settled in once again.

Gary plugged an iPod in his ears and listened to his modest rock collection. Two in the morning and the companionway door opened, Chris had come to visit. He needed sleep but said he felt alone down there in that big bed, Jerry had gone to sleep in his own berth. Gary seated himself on the stern cushions and Chris lay down. Gary threw a slicker over the boy to keep off the constant draft flowing over the deck.

Gary stroked Chris' hair, and that soft mop felt like blonde straw dipped in salt from the elements. He was just so sweet, his head in Gary's lap, his hands resting on Gary's thigh. He could not be a happier man…he loved a boy.

They stayed like that until almost dawn and Gary felt at peace the whole time. And then came that special moment before the sun peeks over the horizon, a magic time, the glow of the water, the sounds of wind and sea all coming together in a new day.

Chris slept on, unaware of Gary's feelings...his joy. It would happen any second...and pop, there it was...nature and the wonder of the universe had turned on the lights. It didn't take much to imagine why ancient sailors worshiped the sun.

Gary looked around, wondering what the day would bring. There were blinking lights in the sky to the west, airplanes following the coastline. Yeah, Mexico was closer now; they had travelled over three hundred miles so far. Later this morning they would be able to head further south and anchor somewhere along the coast for the night. Chris had been Gary's muse through the night, allowing his thoughts to wander and fill his mind.

He could hire a couple of experienced hands and take Chris to the Med next year, or maybe just fly over and rent a boat. Maybe they could take on a couple of those Greek boys as crew...Lord that had been fun. Shelby had the time of his life over there, he still talked about it. He had become a man that year, sixteen and bright as hell.

Gary had given Shelby up, given them all up to find this one boy...the one asleep in his lap. He wanted to clothe and educate Chris, teach him manners fit for a king. If necessary Gary knew he could buy the mother off, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that. He had to control this young life for Chris to grow up and reach his potential.

Once Chris knew what was expected of him that success would become the bond that glued them together. Gary could not tie him down; freedom had great benefit to the adolescent mind. The boy would see first hand the rich and the poor in all walks of life. From that he could make his own choices.

Gary did not want to program Chris' mind, just expose it to everything. He often felt his parents had done him a favor by showing him the door. He had found the world on the other side and embraced it.

The radar alarm buzzed and Gary stretched forward to see the screen. Blips on the edge of the screen...probably fishing boats coming out to work. He adjusted the auto pilot controls to give them a few points south, hoping to avoid contact.

He leaned back and looked down into those beautiful pools of blue, Chris was awake.

"Did I stay here all night?" He asked.

"Yes, I let you go back to sleep after you came on deck," Gary said.

"Oh...yeah, I remember. Its morning...you must be tired."

"A little...are you awake enough to go make me a coffee?"

"You like my coffee, huh?"

"I love your coffee...and the rest of you too."

Chris sat up and laid his head on Gary's shoulder. "Good morning uh...you know, I need a pet name for you. You call me sweetie all the time and that gives me goose bumps. Yeah, you need a goose bumps name."

"Hmm, a private name...you won't say it in front of anyone else will you?" Gary asked.

"Nope, just between you and me...let me think about it. I'll go make coffee."

The boy's hair was a mess of tangles. Today they would have to wash it in fresh water and allow the salt to come out. Yeah, soon they would feel the sticky heat off the Yucatan Peninsula, it was summer down here. The Yucatan and Cancun itself wasn't bad, the Keys seemed to get hotter. But on a warm summer night a cool room with a real bed might seem mighty welcome.

Gary loved the boat, but he knew the boys felt like rats in a cage sometimes, there wasn't much to do except take care of the essentials. Sailing was a mind game, the physical side of nature kept him alert but allowed his mind to wander and seek peace.

He watched the boats moving off the screen towards the fishing grounds. They were all still nude; something that wouldn't be a problem unless someone came knocking on their door. But by tomorrow they would be back in clothes and feeling the salt on their skins.

Gary would have to allow a customs man on the boat, pay the fees and show their passports. The tourist visa card was a formality, a few dollars for the pleasure of enjoying the Mexican lifestyle.

Chris came back with two mugs of coffee and Gary blessed him as they sat sipping.

"Mexico is a different culture than ours, Chris. I think it's important to study how different societies work; we get too full of ourselves sometimes. No one will question me and my two sons unless I make out with you in the town square."

Chris almost dropped his mug. "I know for sure you won't do that in public."

"Just a word of caution to be careful what you look at. Macho is the game here, gay is not. Jerry worries me more than you do. He's in fast cruise mode these days."

"Yeah...I get that. What if he picks the wrong guy?"

"I can't fix a broken nose," Gary said. "He has to be careful."

"You want me to keep an eye on him?" Chris asked.

Gary smiled. "No, I want you to have extreme fun, its vacation time remember. But we'll both do our best to keep him alive for another year, okay?"

Chris grinned. "Yeah, I'm on it."

"Go down to our bedroom and bring me that bottle of shampoo and the conditioner, I want to wash your hair." Chris didn't have to be asked twice, he set down his mug and bolted for the ladder.

Gary fetched the bucket and moved towards the spigot on the water tank. Last time he'd dipped there was only a bit gone, there was still about four hundred gallons on hand. Most afternoons it rained where they were going. If he took the boat up the coast they could strip down and wash in rain water. It would feel like heaven.

Chris climbed back up and Gary sat him on the deck, filled the bucket and doused his head. The first load of shampoo hardly lathered so Gary doused him again and then again. The second time around he got lather and worked it into Chris' hair and scalp. Standing over him Gary massaged and rinsed, then applied the conditioner. Chris turned around to face him as the rich moisturizing lotion was worked into his hair, and then Gary felt lips on his cock.

It was shock...but a nice one. It was just dangling there in front of Chris' eyes. Gary looked down as the boy worked him into an erection. It was exciting and so wonderful to know Chris wanted to please him like this. But the boy didn't have the skills necessary to create an orgasm; he would have to be carefully taught.

Gary allowed Chris to continue for another minute and then dropped to his knees and kissed Chris' cheeks, neck and then his mouth. Gary's hands were covered with conditioner and he reached down to grasp Chris' cock. Stroking that rigid penis for all he was worth, Gary was determined to make something grand out of the moment. It didn't take long, and with a mighty groan Chris came and splattered Gary's chest with his seed.

Chris leaned back on the deckhouse and grinned. "Fucking wow, we have hot sex, mister."

Gary broke up laughing. It had all been driven by passion, something Chris seemed to have discovered in himself. Gary stood up and filled another bucket of water to rinse away the conditioner. Finally Chris' hair hung limp, and shown in the morning sun.

"God...you are so beautiful," Gary said.

"You gonna wash me now, Daddy?" Chris asked with a grin.

"Yeah...sure sweetie."

So he was to be Daddy now…and what a privilege that was. Chris might be seventeen in a few months, but his inner child was still manifest and Gary liked that. It brought out the emotional side of the relationship and made the boy dear. Gary was falling deeply in love, there was no other explanation.

Gary hugged him and then washed, first Chris and then himself. Jerry could have a fresh water bath later. But now they were both hungry and Gary was tired. Chris made toast and eggs, doctoring the egg powder with pepper, a dash of salt and some curry powder of all things.

They roused Jerry from sleep and ate a breakfast which tasted great. Gary wanted another coffee but needed sleep even more. Gary told them about the fishing boats and cautioned about any course changes. In about five hours they would start to feel the off shore breeze and could run due south. He left orders that they should wake him up, and then went off to bed with a smile. What a great night.

Chris shook Gary's arm and he started awake. "What's up?"

"We need to change direction and its starting to rain," Chris said.

Gary went topside and saw the storm clouds ahead. The wind was kicking up and that could mean issues with the tack they were on. Jerry had reefed the mainsail to keep their heading and Gary agreed with the change. The rains came down in sudden torrents of water that obliterated the view ahead.

Gary looked in under the hood at the radar screen, lots of interference. "Jerry, did you see anything close by before this hit?"

"Nope, some dots to the north, but we were running away from them I was sure."

"Okay, let's keep our eyes open until this passes, guys."

Jerry went up to the bow. For some damn reason he loved to ride the up and down motion there, Gary figured it was like riding a horse. He watched towards the west, Chris took the east. Visibility was down to nothing by that point, and just as sudden as it had begun the rain stopped.

The wind swirled around them in strange gusts, and that made Gary sense danger. His sailor's instinct knew something was wrong. He started looking in every direction and sure enough there was a waterspout across the sea about half a mile away over the bow. Jerry yelled a warning and Gary turned the wheel hard to port, cursing that the mainsail wasn't fully up.

He gave Chris the wheel and rushed forward, meeting Jerry at the base of the mast. They cranked the mainsail up in record time and Gary felt the boat heal over. Chris was holding steady, good lad.

Their speed quickly took them away from the churning column of water. Freaks of nature like that were known to dismast a boat twice their size, sucking the sails right off the mast. Gary went back to Chris and told him to back off. The boy turned the wheel a few inches to starboard, and then more until the boat righted and they returned to a southerly course.

Gary congratulated them both for a job well done, and then he grinned. He went below and came back with something clenched in his fist. Jerry started laughing, he knew what was about to happen.

"First Mate Christopher Owens...front and center," Gary barked out.

Chris smiled at his name and Jerry took the wheel, urged him forward with a grin. Chris stood there and Gary smiled to ease his worries.

"For bravery in the face of death, for taking command of the ship in our time of need...for being so fucking cute I can't stand it...I award you our medal of honor."

He held open his hand and Chris looked down. His eyes saw what was sitting in Gary's palm, but he didn't know what it was. The two round orbs of brass were hung from a chain, and Gary clasped it around Chris' neck.

"You are now a First Class Mate and a full crew member of the Brass Balls," Gary explained.

Jerry and Gary gave three cheers as Chris laughed at the pair of brass balls hanging around his neck. Gary had them made on Duval Street, the jeweler was in on the joke, and now so was Chris. He had done well and that was recognized with this award. The boy stayed cool under pressure, something Gary admired.

They settled in after that bit of excitement for a pleasant day's cruise. And after dinner land was spotted to the south, they had arrived in Mexico. The small island of Cerrito lay off the port bow and Gary studied the charts.

"That looks like a real jungle over there," Chris said.

"It is, but we're not allowed to land…it's off limits," Gary said.

"What's there?" Jerry asked.

"Mayan ruins, it's an archeological site." Gary typed the name into his laptop. "Yes, a very ancient place, thousands of years old. Mayan outpost of some kind, but it takes government permission to land so we move on."

The Yucatan Peninsula lay before them, and from the GPS information they were somewhere east of Progreso. Good enough, they could overnight here along the shore near one of the small villages and reach Juarez tomorrow by mid-day. The chart showed Gary that the coast held some large reefs and so they would not be able to go ashore.

When the depth decreased to twenty feet Gary dropped anchor about a half mile off shore and they rode the gentle swells into the evening.

"You had better smoke that last joint and enjoy it," Gary said. "The weed has to go over the side when we pull up the anchor."

Finally Gary would get a good night's sleep. But it was warm, even with the port holes and the overhead hatch open. The gentle breeze that swept through the cabin was filled with humidity. Still, he had Chris beside him and they were about to have a fine vacation.

In all his years Gary had never discovered a better way to become acquainted with a boy than to take him out on the sea. Sailing was a matter of love and it had become the very essence of his being. Sharing that always seemed to do the trick.

Of course like most novice sailors Chris was dependent upon him for the essentials. The vast stretches of water could be intimidating and that built the dependence. But Chris had exhibited none of the uneasiness he'd seen in others. The boy was a born sailor, he was fun to be around, what more could he ask in a companion?

Juarez was a busy little Mexican port, and five hours after they weighed anchor they rounded the tip of the peninsula and tacked south. The waterway was filled with yachts and commercial traffic so Jerry and Chris lowered the sails and they quickly became a motorboat. Spanish was just one of several languages Gary had almost learned during his stay in the Navy, but most of the signs were posted in English and Spanish.

The customs dock was filled and they waited for a large luxury yacht to make way as it backed out of the slip. Chris looked up at the decks towering over them and saw several guys at the rail. Jerry waved at them and they returned the gesture.

"Going for it already?" Gary asked.

"Full speed ahead, Captain....that guy in the red bathing suit is hot," Jerry replied.

"Damn, look how skimpy that bathing suit is…do you suppose he's gay?" Chris asked.

"Don't know...don't care, I would rock his world," Jerry laughed. "But I won't assume anyone is gay unless I get that look. You know...the one where it looks like they want to eat you?"

"I've seen that a few times," Chris admitted.

"Yeah, I bet you have...you look hot, Chris."

Gary laughed out loud as Chris blushed a deep crimson at Jerry's compliment. He had to expect a few stares, even down here. He had that awesome wind blown hair and a body tanned to a rich brown...yeah, he was hot and Gary was a proud Daddy.

They pulled into the slip and Jerry leapt up to tie them off to a cleat. Gary looked up at the smiling face of a customs agent with a clipboard in hand. "Welcome to Puerto Juarez," The man said.

It took that agent and two others a scant ten minutes to tour the boat, a bare search operation, as if Gary didn't know it would be. He had handed over a copy of the customs declaration, something done years before on his first trip down here. It paid to have everything done in advance, they liked it, and he liked it...a done deal.

There was an in and out procedure on the books for boats like Gary's. Checking in you paid a fee and then there was the exit fee. The first was acceptable; the latter was a point of contention. Gary paid the tourist fees in cash, had their passports stamped and had papers in hand shortly thereafter. The customs people would not see them again until next time, adios.

Gary backed away from the customs pier and allowed another boat to take their place. Then he slowly motored along, the boys virtually hanging over the side to view everything around them. Blue Bay was only a twenty minute ride away, the only place Gary ever wanted to stay.

The resort of Cancun sat on a spit of land, much like the Outer Banks up in the Carolinas or Miami Beach. One road in and out was not Gary's idea of getting around, thus the choice of Juarez. The tourist resort was south of them, and they would spend a day or two gawking at the place, but Gary would stay in Puerto Juarez for one good reason.

He was not an aficionado of suntanned tourists on the beach, boobs hanging out and all that hetero stuff one usually sees. Jerry certainly wasn't, and Chris...well, he was with Gary. Juarez had modest nightlife, swimming pools, beaches, etc. A week here maybe until that storm cleared out, then a slow cruise along the coast...fishing, snorkeling, sunbathing and sex, yes, definitely sex.

Chris had never done much of anything like this. Gary wanted to watch him swim and see if the boy had an aptitude for scuba, there was enough gear stowed below for two. Jerry was on the prowl so he would probably rather be in Cancun at night when the place went wild. Now all Gary had to do was trust him not to get in trouble.

Gay life in Cancun was tentative, just beginning to peek out from under the shroud of mystery and danger that used to haunt gay folk wherever they went. Now there were gay bars, a half dozen were listed in the phone book. At eighteen Jerry would be welcome in any of them. There were also gathering places, streets and parks where men met and smiled at one another, but those would be more dangerous.

Gary wasn't going to stop Jerry's exploration of gay life since that would be hypocritical. He was definitely attractive enough to get stares, and that might serve him well in the right situation. They were both attractive, but Chris was not going anywhere alone.

The Blue Bay had its own dock, beach and hotel, a complete resort setting. Three years before Gary had met the owner and manager, or it would be better to say the corporate representative. Tourism attracted some heavy players, business was booming. Ricardo Delarosa was just such a figure, a man's man...or so it appeared. But looks were deceiving especially here in Mexico. They'd met at the hotel bar. Ricardo had introduced his wife and then promptly hit on Gary when she turned her back.

Gary had told the man he was there with his son, it was Neil at the time, and then smiled at Ricardo's wink. They understood one another and the friendship developed over dinner as the man gazed admiringly at Neil. The boy was handsome if you liked raven haired beauties with green eyes...Gary sure did at the time.

Ricardo was an elegant man, a very rich man. Gary had emailed the hotel the moment he had arrived in the Keys with Chris. Ricardo had personally replied. Come on down he said, there was always room for friends.

Gary had emailed his credit card info to the reservations desk and asked for two rooms. If Jerry got lucky he would have his own playground. Gary felt pretty generous at that gesture, but was still concerned. He often wondered if mother birds felt anxiety as they pushed their babies out of the nest. It was time to find out.

Gary had the boys dress in something a bit more serious, which meant putting on shirts and shoes. They brought the boat into a vacant slip out at the fringe of the docks and an attendant ran out to see who we were.

"Ahh, Mr. Lewis...you were expected," He declared, and then directed them to move the boat to another spot, one damn near in the shadow of the hotel. It paid to have friends. Somehow Ricardo would end up trying to have their bill disappear, especially when he got a good look at the boys.

The baggage was carried for them, the dock boys not quite as cute as their counterparts up in Key West, but Jerry still drooled a bit. Chris took it all in with that boyish awe Gary was beginning to love, and the lad got a few heads turning as they entered the hotel proper.

They were shown two adjoining rooms, both with luxury appointments Gary noted. He tipped the bell boys and received beautiful smiles in return as they pocketed what must be at least a day's wages here. Gary opened the adjoining door to Jerry's room and found him stripping off already. "Shower time," Jerry said, the urgency was understood.

Chris and Gary showered together, as always, a most pleasurable experience. Gary was tired but the hot water perked him up as he dressed in tropical evening wear. That meant clean shorts and a real shirt this time.

They went downstairs to the hotel restaurant, a nicely appointed room with good food. Gary didn't want to venture too far from the hotel this evening; they all needed a night in a bed that didn't move. They had just been seated when Gary felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Gary ... so pleasant to see you," Ricardo said. Gary stood for a hug and introduced the boys. The man gazed around the table with a twinkle in his eye. "You have such a delightful family," He said. "You are all most welcome, are you staying with us for a long period?"

"We are, maybe the week. Going to show these boys the sights, and just relax," Gary said.

"It has been a wonderful season," Ricardo said. "You boys will very much enjoy the beaches and our pool I am sure. Such wonderful tans already." He was smiling and Chris smiled back. Ricardo zoomed in on the boy with his attentions as he sat in the empty chair at their table.

"Chris has never been here before," Gary said, "Jerry was with me last year."

"I thought I remembered your face, you have grown up so well, a young man now." Jerry visibly swelled at the compliment. "And such a sweet face," Ricardo said, turning his attentions back to Chris. "Our city is blessed with your presence." Of course Chris blushed and made himself even more adorable if that was possible.

"You must simply ask if you need anything, Gary. I will have a car and driver for you very quickly if you so desire. I get to see you so rarely, my friend. We must have dinner some evening."

"I think we'd all like that very much, Ricardo," Gary replied.

Ricardo slapped his hands down on the table. "I must be going, the business community is having a party this evening and my wife is...is such a socialite, she must attend." He laughed and gave each boy a special smile. "I will see you young gentlemen very soon...how could I resist? Miguel will be your waiter this evening; he works very hard to give good service. So enjoy yourselves my friends."

With that he stood, squeezed a hand on Gary's shoulder and gave him a wink. Miguel huh? Gary knew perfectly well what he was saying. Ricardo had stocked the hotel staff with cute young men...he should have known this was a setup.

On to Chapter Five

Back to Chapter Three

Chapter Index


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"Brass Balls" Copyright © 2011 by Chris James. All rights reserved.
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