Joey, the Tech

[Toon]

(about five years ago)

At the time, I thought I was at the end of my rope. I had just been laid-off from my job and was trying to keep my head above water. I could live off the severance pay for the rest of the year, but losing that job pretty much ended my social life. All of my friends were either still there or had been let go too. I'd get emails or texts from them on a very irregular basis. But I wasn't alone...I had Bongo. Bongo was my German Shepherd and best friend. He was pleased as hell to have me home all the time. We took long walks in my little neighborhood and played fetch  for hours. He was as anti-social as I was. He got angry at strangers and wanted to taste their blood. There were a few humans he seemed okay with...my mom, the bible-thumping dude who fixed my sliding glass door and one of the guys at the vet's office. Bongo went through a stage where he refused to eat, and I was taking him to the animal clinic. I usually had to put a muzzle on him so he wouldn't kill the doctor. Embarrassing. However, there was one assistant he seemed to instantly like. He was called a "technician", but really he just did the grunt work there. Mopping up pee. trimming nails and feeding the animal patients. But Joey seemed to be happy with the job. We were both around the same age (late 20's). He was a tall, gangly red-head who still had some freckles dotting his cheeks and nose. Joey knew how to handle Bongo, knew the tone of voice that would calm him down.

"Hello, Bongo. Why don't you want to eat? Upset stomach? I get that sometimes. Let's go get you better."

The vet had to do some emergency dental surgery on a poodle and couldn't see us that day. It was almost closing time and Joey arranged for Bongo to spend the night there so that the doctor could check him first thing in the morning.

"No extra charge. I'll look after him and call you with any updates. He'll be fine, Ross. Bongo is a good boy and we get along."

I took the sad drive back home. If you've ever known a German Shepherd you know they are a big presence at all times....with their size and energy. The house seemed so empty and quiet without Bongo. What would I even do tonight? Watch cable news? Read? I just sat on the couch with glass after glass of wine. And worried. I had a small panic building in my chest.

Around 9 M, the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Ross? Hi, it's Joey. Just wanted to let you know that I took Bongo out for a walk just now and he has the runs. I think he has a stomach bug which is so fixable. I gave him a giant bowl of water and a treat. I think he's going to be just fine."

"That's great. Are you there 24 hours a day?"

"No. It just seems that way now because we're short of help. The guy who comes twice a night to walk and check on the patients and borders quit. I live nearby and am always willing to get overtime."

"That makes me feel so much better. Bongo likes you...and he hardly likes anyone."

"Want to come visit him now? I know he'd love to see you."

"Now? At night?"

"Why not? Plus I could use the company. But only if you can. I'll watch for you and unlock the front door."

"Great. See you soon."

For whatever reason, I was nervous. I cleaned myself up a little and got dressed. At the last second, I grabbed a t-shirt out of the hamper. Bongo had a great sense of smell and would probably miss my articular odor.

Once I got there, I saw the lights were all on. And Joey was standing there, waiting. He wasn't wearing those scrubs the 'technicians' usually wear...he was just in old jeans and a baseball shirt. There were holes in the jeans and I could see one of his exposed knees. Wonder if there were freckles on it?

He let me in and took me right back to the kennel area. How did he do this? There were so many hurting dogs who obviously missed their homes. Sad eyes. Bongo saw me before I saw him...and barked joyfully. He looked like he was feeling better. His eyes were happy and bright...so much different than his little neighbors.

"How do you do it, Joey? How can be around so much sadness?"

"Because I'm good at helping them. And that makes me feel good. I'm glad the other guy quit. He could give a shit. I actually care."

"Makes sense. Do you guys still need help?"

"Badly. Why? You want the job? I mean, I know you're unemployed, but this can be hard work -- for not much pay."

"How do you know I'm unemployed?"

He looked down and admitted that one of the ladies at the desk had told him. He must have asked about me. 

"You'd be excellent at this job. Maybe as good as me. You have the right vibe, and I see you brought an old t-shirt for Bongo."

"Yeah. It's not clean. He sleeps next to me every night and maybe misses my funk."

"Go ahead and give it to him. I'll unlock the cage."

As soon as the door opened, Bongo bolted out and came to me. I hated thinking he thought I was taking him home now.  This was probably a bad idea. 

"Why don't you walk him, while I walk the pug twins. Let's go."

It was a nice night in late June. The clinic was in an upscale strip mall and very well-lit. There was a mini-park next to the hair salon, and we let the dogs sniff it out and do their stuff. 

"If you really want the job, you've got it. Dr. Church likes me and will listen to my opinion. He's like us...he can get inside an animal's brain. I wanted to be an animal doctor when I was in school, but didn't have good enough grades.  Kills me. But I have a decent life for the most part. What about you? What are you going to do next?"

"No idea. Bongo and I haven't figured out our next move."

"Well, you'll be working here for a little while."

"I'd like that. There's nothing on TV I want to see anyway."

"And you're gay too, right?"

Huh? "What? How much did the desk lady tell you?"

"Liz has a gay son, and probably just knew. She's not a gossip or anything....I just asked her a lot about you."

"Why?"

"You don't know? I'm gay too. I've been interested in you and Bongo for nearly a year. What do you think about that?"

Um. "Well. I'm flattered I guess. I know almost nothing about you."

"You know my name, the fact that I'm gay, a bad student and love animals. What else?"

"You have a boyfriend?"

"No. I have had a lot of sex with men and a lot of fun, but I'm too odd-looking for a serious relationship."

The dogs seemed to be done so we headed back. "You are NOT odd looking, Joey. I think you're handsome."

"No. You just see the inside of me. My outside is just red hair and scarecrow body and freckles."

"No more putting yourself down in my presence. I don't like it. It's too much the way I think of myself."

"You? You're a catch, Ross."

I had no more words. Did I like this guy?I did. What do I do next? What do I say?"

Once Bongo was inside his cage, Joey handed him my t-shirt. He loved it and immediately made a little pillow with it. I guess this was the end of the night. It was almost 10:30 PM. 

"He's going to be just fine. I know it. He had a tummy ache and it's better now. You leaving?"

"Well...yeah. He's in good hands with you."

"But I have go to come back in four hours to do the final walk. Can you give me a ride home? We can hang out or something."

Sure. I felt my pulse quicken. "Sounds good. Where do you live?"

"Pepper Tree Apartments. It's only a few blocks away. I can just walk if you need to go home. You probably do...I bet you've got a cat."

"No. No cats yet. I like them, but I don't think Bongo does."

He laughed and got in my car. I purposely didn't turn on the radio so he would talk more. I had a feeling I was in the middle of being seduced. Maybe.

"Nice car. Do you date much?"

"No. I was never sure how to do it or what to say or where to go."

"You're kidding, right? I've had so many one night stands, it's ridiculous. I guess I'm like a tom cat that hasn't been neutered. So I guess you never went to 'Soaks'."

"What's that?"

"It's the bath house downtown. I spent a good five years going there. Keep your eyes on the road while I tell you something. I have AIDS. Well, not technically. It's still just HIV.  Not sure how I got it. I only like fucking - not getting fucked. Doc wants me to start drug therapy, but the animals are the only therapy I need right now. OK. Just park here on the street...the lot is always full this time of night."

We got out. The crickets were singing.

"You should start taking the medication, Joey. It's basically a cure now."

"Basically. Right. I'll take the meds eventually. Why are you so concerned? You don't even know my last name."

"It's "Moffet". You think I haven't asked Liz about you too?"

He reached down and took my hand. His fingers were so long...like a spider or something. It felt right. 

"She's okay....just likes to talk. Her husband is a drunk. I bet her life sucks."

"Joey -- I like holding your hand."

"Feels natural to me."

"Completely."

"I'm right here on the first level. Hopefully the guys upstairs are already passed out. They party a LOT."

His place was simple and clean. Lots of framed prints on the wall. Monet. I took art history in college and liked the Impressionists most of all. Joey took off his sneakers. No socks. There were little red tufts of hair on top of his toes. 

"I like your place. It's nice."

"No, not really. I'm not into 'stuff'. Want some wine? It's boxed, but still pretty good. Called "blush" or something like that."

"If you have some, I will."

He brought back two way-too-full glasses of pink wine. It wasn't bad at all. 

"Ross?"

"Yeah?"

"If I kiss you right now, will you like it?"

"Probably, but there's only one way to know for sure."

He leaned over and kissed me with his mouth open wide. It was like we were one right then. I tasted him and took his air into my lungs. So this is why everybody liked to kiss...you got to be part of someone with just a simple act. Nobody ever told me. My dick grew five sizes.  He stopped and looked at me with his green eyes. 

"I think you liked that."

"Ding,ding, ding...that is correct." I couldn't help but smile broadly.

"Wanna get naked? And go to my bed?"

"Yeah. I'm wanting that, Joey."

He took my hand again and led me into his little chamber. It was as simple and clean as the rest of his apartment. We both undressed and just stood there at the foot of his bed, hugging and groping. I noticed his dick was very fat and long. It kept prodding me in the stomach. Making me weak in the knees.

"Lay down."

I did. His mattress wasn't so good, but I gave not a damn. He climbed into bed next to me and panted like he'd run a mile. 

"Wanna touch my cock, Ross? Just to see if you like it?"

I didn't just touch it...I kissed the flaring red head of his big cock. It tasted like him.

"Oh shit! Yeah! Suck it...just for a little while. Please?" I had no idea what I was doing. Suck on it like it was a baby bottle? I could do that. His dick was just so large and imposing. I had to make an effort. I did as best I could. I could tell he was leaking a little because my tongue was tasting new things. I seldom produced pre-cum. 

"You know what I have in my balls and in my blood, Ross. We can stop now or...."

"Or..?"

"You can follow my lead. I can be a little bossy in bed, but I'm giving you an 'out'."

"Take the lead, Joey. But can we have a little bit of light. I want to see everything."

He stretched out a long arm and switched on a little bedside lamp. Not a lot of brightness, but I could see the red hair under his arms and the freckles on his shoulders. The pubes around his fat prick were curly and red like a clown wig. 

"Okay, buddy. I'm in charge now. Let's make this count. Ever lick an asshole before? you're going to now." He sat on my face. I tasted the fur first and then the other things -- none of which were unpleasant. Weirdly, he tasted and smelled a little bit like the vet's office. I kind of loved doing this, but I wasn't getting any oxygen. I just kept licking and kissing his hole while he moaned. I could always breathe later. He lifted off of me and I gulped the free air. 

"Damn, Ross. I'm leaking all over the place. We might not even need lube! Ready to be fucked? Fucked with a sick,deadly cock?"

"Oh God yes."

"That wasn't really a question." He spread my legs far apart and got in position to do the deed. Right as he was poking around down there, loud music came from the ceiling. The bass practically shook the walls.

"I guess your neighbors are home."

"Good timing. Nobody will hear you scream when I do THIS!" He thrust that big dick halfway into me and I definitely screamed. Nobody heard me yell 'stop' and 'no'. Joey was grinning like the devil. He was really enjoying this and that made me want to please him more. I was doing this. I was getting my virgin body pozzed. He kept going deeper. The guys in porn movies (I'd seen a few hundred) always shut their eyes tight and looked like they were in agony as they got close to orgasm, but Joey had his eyes wide open and was grinning so broadly.

"Yeah! Come in me! I want it!"

"Here it is.  Ahhhhh! Yes! I needed that." He left his dick inside of me for a minute, looking into my face the whole time. Still smiling. 

"Thanks, Joey. I loved it."

"Sshh. You're bleeding a bit. Let me get a paper towel and clean you up. We can nap for a few hours and then go check on our boy."

'Our'? From that point on, we were connected. It was like a wedding or something because he was a permanent part of my life after that moment. We dated and worked together and he finally moved himself in to my house. Bongo was thrilled...sleeping between two people he liked, loved. 

I of course tested HIV+ eventually. I could worry about that later. He's outside walking Bongo right now.

 

 

 

[Tdgr]

Woof!