willing, but never eager, and 1 do not in the least blame him. To this day I worship his memory-he was killed in action during the war-for he was tender, loving and kind, which many others I might have found would not have been.

Living next door to Ken was another boy of about his same age and with whom Ken occasionally went to the movies or other affairs. He never knew anything about Ken and me, but eventually became either suspicious or jealous and began to tease Ken for always playing with a baby. Ken explained the time he spent with me by saying that he was teaching me to be a checkers champ. One day, while Ken and I were "playing" together, we suddenly looked up and saw this boy, Joe, and a cousin of his, standing in the bedroom doorway watching us and leering. Ken immediately jumped to his feet but Joe said, "You're too late now. Go ahead and have your fun, and if you don't I'll have you both in trouble." Ken went over to him as if to fight, and Joe said, "You can lick me all right, but if you touch me, I'll have you and your little friend in jail before night. So go ahead and finish your fun, and then Jim and I are next!"

I had visions of Ken's and my going to jail and begged him to agree, but he said no, whatever happened. Finally, however, he gave in, especially after they said that if we didn't agree willingly, they would. force me anyway. I didn't realize then that we were all in the same boat. Joe insisted that Ken and I finish what we had started while they watched. Then they came to me one at a time and had their leasure with me.

Neither was at all rough, and I soon found that whereas with Ken 1 had done what I had done from love and adoration I was now enjoying sex for its own sake.

Once the boys had found this outlet they did not intend to relinquish it. While Jim soon returned to his hometown, Joe, over Ken's objections, continued to join us in our fun. Eventually Joe began to introduce other youths, some in their late teens, others in their early twenties, to our group. By this time, I had been introduced to a variety of practices and would let them use me in any manner they desired.

It was not long before there were some thirty boys, ranging in age from seventeen to twenty-two, involved in our fun. As an excuse to get together the boys organized a glee club and I attended their meetings ostensibly to hear them practice. Gradually, the novelty wore off and the group began to diminish. Ken. himself, moved away, but I continued to hear from him occasionally until his death.

As another excuse for having me with them, Ken and the other boys had made me sufficiently proficient at checkers that I became the local champion and held the title for nine years. It is ironic to point out that the newspapers praised Ken and a few of the others for taking such an interest in me and for devoting their time and energies to training me so well. How little people know about the relationships of others! The group itself jealously guarded my reputation lest their own be spoiled.

Life moved on. By the time I was in High School the group had pretty well fallen apart as some moved away and others married. I began to have some clandestine affairs with one or two of my "chums." Otherwise, my contacts became fewer and fewer. After I finished school I went into teaching and, with the exception of one or two friends, had no contacts at all in my hometown, but occasionally went to a city about two hundred miles away to seek an occasional outlet.

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