Page:Jay Little - Maybe—Tomorrow.pdf/88

 said this. In the dim and shifting light he knew and he also knew Blake knew.

"It's been done before," Blake grinned.

"It has?" Gaylord knew it had but he didn't know what else to say.

"Hell, Gay … boys play around with each other … it's only natural. Haven't you ever played around with another fellow?" he almost whispered, his countenance assuming in a flash a secret and indecent mask.

"No," Gaylord answered with vagueness, "I haven't. Have you?"

At this Blake laughed softly. He blinked and tossed his head in a series of chuckles. Gaylord wondered how he had ever had the courage to ask such a question. He grinned back at Blake, thinking, I'll bet you can read my mind … I bet you know what I'm thinking …. I'm glad it's dark.

Blake said, "You're a sweet kid, you know it." He patted Gaylord's thigh again. "Thelma thinks you're sweet too. Did you know that?"

Gaylord saw the broad wink. He almost swallowed his gum. Looking at Blake he asked aghast, "Thelma? Thelma White?"

"Uh huh … Thelma White."

"Oh."

"What's the matter … she didn't say anything wrong … she thinks you're swell."

"She does?"

"Yeah. Said you really knew how to make love … you know what else she told me?"

Gaylord sat for a moment staring and biting his bottom lip. Just what else had Thelma told?

"Don't you want to hear what else she told me?"

"What else?"

"She told me she had been out with you … said she thought you didn't like her because …" he grinned. "She got your cherry."

"That's what she thinks. I just don't care for her type … that's why I haven't been with her any more … she's got such an awful rep that … I've been out with girls … everybody thinks I'm just a kid … nobody believes I'm grown … I don't know, but … I'm …"