April 11, 2008...5:45 pm
Chapter 4
The lullaby rocking of the train soothed Atman, but he could not sleep. He had not said good-bye to his father. Neither of them had told their families they were leaving. Atman knew they would easily be adopted into P.T.’s Traveling Circus. Phineas would be happy to hear he had accumulated two performers from his competition. There were lots of kids who ran away to join the circus, and the caravan of theatrics welcomed them. Cheap labor, asking only for food and shelter and a minute or two in the spotlight, came easy.
Atman crawled out of the hay and sat at the opening of the railway car to watch the bayou swamp pass by in the night as the train crept northward. He let his feet dangle over the edge since the train was moving so slow. He knew they’d pick up speed once they were out of the swamp. Alligators often took their time crossing the railroad tracks at night, and hitting a large one could derail the train.
As the train pushed along the banks, Atman could see splashing below as the gators scurried off the banks and back into the water for safety. He could not imagine the demise of someone falling off the train into the swamp, but he was not afraid. A hand gripped his shoulder from behind him. He reached up to caress it, knowing Phillipe had awakened.
“Where do you think we are going?” Phillipe asked.
“Memphis would be my guess.”
Phillipe sat down beside Atman to watch the world pass by. He kept his legs tucked underneath him instead of letting them fall over the side. He put his head on Atman’s shoulder, and Atman wrapped an arm around his waist to comfort him.
“Everything will be fine,” Atman assured him.
“I know. I’m not worried. I have you,” Phillipe said.
“And I have you,” Atman said.
Phillipe lifted his head to look into Atman’s eyes. “Would it frighten you if I told you I love you?”
“No,” Atman said, “I love you too. You are my only friend.”
“Mine too,” Phillipe said, “but I think I love you more than a friend.”
Atman was silent as he pondered what Phillipe had said. It didn’t scare him. After all, they had been inseparable for years now. They’d grown up together and often slept in the same bed together. They had comforted each other with the warmth of their bodies on cold nights, but never anything more. They didn’t know anything more outside of the gentle and innocent friendship they both provided for one another.
But as best friends often do, Atman and Phillipe could read each other’s minds. Both of them yearned for more. There would be no testing of boundaries, no taking their relationship one step further. Both of them were virgins and had never spent quality time with anyone else of interest nor of the opposite sex. Their worlds were one, and had never experienced heart ache before. So, it seemed only fitting for them to satisfy the sexual needs of one another. Now, both in their early twenties, their curious minds had finally overtaken them.
“Come. Lay down with me,” Atman said as he pulled Phillipe away from the doorway.
Atman lay down in the hay. Holding Phillipe’s hand, Atman pulled him down on top of him and wrapped his arms around Phillipe’s body. Their lips met like magnets. Soft wet bird pecks taught each of them how to kiss. Phillipe tried to concentrate on how his parents kissed one another. He opened his mouth and licked Atman’s pouty lips. Atman took Phillipe’s tongue into his mouth and gently sucked it.
Unlike fumbling teenagers, their naked bodies were not new to one another. They had bathed and swam together before, so there were no curious surprises. The shock came from the feeling of their naked bodies against one another like curvy puzzle pieces finding a perfect fit. Their erections poked one another like bumpy rocks under bare feet. Atman took their manhood into his hand and stroked them together. He gently squeezed them and took pleasure from the ecstasy he could see in Phillipe’s face, and from the pulsing of blood he could feel beneath the sensitive skin.
With their clothes for a pallet on top of the itchy hay, the breeze from the train picking up speed cooled their sticky bodies. They fell asleep naked wrapped in each other’s arms. Atman was correct. The train crossed through Mississippi in the early hours of morning and arrived in Memphis just after sunrise. Atman and Phillipe dressed and hid in the hay again while the circus performers stepped off to stretch their legs. He knew they had some time before they’d start unloading the train and sitting up camp on the riverbank. Atman peeked out and saw the Mississippi river. It looked the same here as it did in Louisiana, like an old familiar friend that had followed them.
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