Saint Patrick’s was crowded for High Mass, but everyone was more or less in their usual seats so it wasn’t hard to find Joel. Seth, of course, was not there. Mark was pretty sure Seth didn’t even believe in God. When Mass began Mark tried to pay attention, tried to be reverent, tried to lose himself in the service. He’d always been serious about church even if, in his own mind, he wasn’t the greatest Catholic. And he needed to be serious right now. He needed to pray. But even when he prayed...

Rick Howard’s prom was his eighteenth birthday, and he remembered taking Marcia Ryan and kissing her politely, but feeling nothing when he dropped her off. For a very long time Rick had lived with the idea that a proper young man wasn’t supposed to feel lust for girls anyway, so this was a mark of his superiority. Only, he did feel lust. His mind did go in certain directions. He did have certain wonders. They’d started out idly enough, but lately they’d grown more and more. He tossed and turn...

AFTER THE DEVASTATION OF HIS first serious relationship, Mark Powers thought he would never love again, and for a very long time he didn’t. When Vanessa Londgren broke up with him he was twenty-one and getting ready to graduate. He became more serious than usual, shaved off his hair, quit wearing tie-dye and slipped into sensible shoes. He’d never been very loud or boisterous around anyone but his close friends, and there weren’t many of those. Now he was quieter still. Life went on as normal...

Hold on to me and no one else tonight you never have to fear again tonight you don't have to go to anyone else no other man all the empty hours where you craved the touch of skin to skin of love to love are fulfilled now in me

“No,” Mark said. “It just... it wasn’t… anything.” “And now it is, and now you’re trying to understand. And I’m your guinea pig. I’m your coming to grips. I suppose you feel like you have something on me because I told you how I felt. About you.” “Look,” Mark said, suddenly angry. “I never asked you to have anything for me, and quite frankly, I think I’m dealing with it a lot better than most people would. Most straight men would have... they would have never talked to you again.” “You ...

When it was done his seed was on the bed sheet. The patch they’d made love in was soaked. He undressed her slowly and sucked on her nipples, he sucked on her throat. They made love again. He felt so good. She knew that she felt good. She kept coming. She’d never come so many times. When it was over, in the darkness of the night he whispered into her ear. She could feel his beard against her. “How do you feel?” “I feel like this is the end of everything,” she told him. She hooked an arm ar...

SAVANNAH DARROW SAT IN THE PASSENGER seat of the car and waited for Bobby to realize she was still there. He needed to cut his hair. The afro would never come back, not like that, not uncombed with a pick in it, not with slouched shoulders. How did she always get that? The slouched shoulders. He was halfway down Beckett Avenue when he turned around and headed for the car. He stood at her window and finally Savannah cranked it down. “What? he said. “Why can’t you open the car door for me...

“We went to the quarry lake,” Mason told his dad as he paced about the room throwing off his cape, taking off his black jacket. “The one near the Pennsylvania border?” “Yes. Seth drove. Dad, Seth skinny dipped.” “Seth Seth?” “No, Dad, Seth the Egyptian God of the Desert.” Sidney cocked his head. “You really ought to read more, Dad. Anyway, yes, Seth McKenna. As in Joel’s son. Anyway, we almost got arrested. We were trespassing.” Sidney’s eyes went wide. “What happened?” he s...

Andy Rathko, Adam Benet, and Rebecca Angstrom had all gone to the same K-8 school. Now, except for Becky, they all went to Saint Vitus. Every school had different societies and each of these societies has further divisions. There were the athletes, and then they were divided between King Football and Prince Basketball. After that came the minor courtiers; soccer, lacrosse, track and field, ra ra ra ending in the various swim teams which basically had a ranking slightly above chess or debat...

“Swear to God,” Mason told him. “I’m not gay, but for a million I’d totally redecorate this motherfucker for you. I mean, I’m thinking a big old blood red horse head over your bed, a monster over there.” “Um,” Balliol smiled and made a contented sound, “I always wanted a horse head.” “Everyone needs a good horse head,” Tommy remarked. “Tommy said—” Mason began. Tommy’s eyes darted over to Mason. “That you mom is totally hot.” “Mason!” Balliol grinned. “Well, she is,” Mason sai...

From now on WHITE LIFE will air sundays, tuesdays, thursdays and saturday mornings, though other things may be posted on the nights when WHITE LIFE takes a break. Mason, Bailey, Sully, Addison, Tommy, their parents and friends will see you all on Tuesdays. --Ennarath

JOEL MCKENNA NEVER REALIZED HE had sworn off love until it came back to him. Love was, in the end, an untrustworthy business. Love kept your mind from reality. You didn’t know where you were or what was going on. For twelve years Joel was sure he had a perfect marriage. He was sure Martha was happy to be Mrs. McKenna. He was sure that he belonged to a loyal family. Life was good. No, life was unhampered. Life was like the beginning of the Book of Job. Joel had read Job—half of it—once. He ...

“Oh, Chris Powers is your son.” Mason realized most sixteen year olds would have flipped it, would have said, “You’re Chris Power’s dad...” “Yes.” Balliol said, neutrally. “I think he’ll take us to a championship.” “He’s a good player.” Balliol nodded. Mason wanted this to end. He knew that Chris must have said something about Balliol, and Balliol must have known that Mark knew who he was. Something was about to happen. Balliol smiled at Mark. And Mark smiled back. A lot...

When Joel saw the beard he burst out laughing and so Mark shrugged and got rid of it. It was agreed that if Joel thought it was stupid it was stupid because Joel was attractive. He was vain about his hair back then. Dukes of Hazzard hair was still in. And he was serious, a student over at Cartimandua College who worked full time. Girls loved serious and sexy. But Joel was worried that day. He had just turned twenty, and Sidney had just turned sixteen and finally it was Sidney who asked wh...

Becky locked the van and they walked up the driveway and then past the garage to the door. Addison put his ear there just in case someone might be home. Whenever his family went out of town they’d even leave the stereo or the T.V. on but for the Darrows apparently the light was enough. He heard nothing. Addison opened the door and then went in taking Becky by the hand and closing the door behind her. “We should have music or something,” Addison said as he walked ahead of her holding he...