Continuing Education

[TheOlderGuy]

OOC - This thread is OPEN TO ALL who care to join us.


Gavin: A distinguished looking man, just turned fifty, a successful writer, widower, sometimes professor, bored with his success -- he's decided to teach a continuing education class at the local community college, a class on journal writing. He's a man of medium height, athletic build, intensely probing eyes, graying blond hair, full beard. He has an air of confidence about him which disguises his shyness, sometimes being mistaken for arrogance.

IC
"OK class, let's calm down. I know it's our first day, and you're all buzzing with anticipation, and meeting new friends. But let's all get into the same conversation so we can get to know each other."
He looked around the room, far fuller than he could have expected when he proposed this class to a skeptical dean. It was a broad cross section of age, from the fresh out of high school to the crowding social security, about two thirds female. That didn't surprise him. Guys still had a much harder time admitting they wanted to get in touch with their feelings. And he had billed it as a class of self-discovery in the form of writing a personal journal.
"I'm Gavin Hayes. You can call me Gavin, or Mr. Hayes, or professor, whatever you're comfortable with. I hope you will think of me as a friend. I know a little bit more about this subject than you do, but I fully expect that before the semester is over, I will be learning things from each and every one of you."
"I'll be asking each of you to buy two notebooks, of whatever design you like. One will be handed in for me to review. Some it what you write in this journal will be shared anonymously with the rest of the class. And I will give you my own personal feedback on what you hand in. The other is for your own deep space, for you to confront your demons and angels on your own."
"While you mull that over, let's go once around the class, and let everyone introduce themselves . . ."
He looked expectantly around, wondering if someone would volunteer to start, or if he would have to call on someone to get the ball rolling.

OOC OK, class, your turn, everyone is welcome . . .

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Leandra

I walked into class with the sense of anticipation that always filled me when I knew I was taking on a new challenge. Like many writers I knew, I tended to hide behind my words and the vivid characters I created. This course had been advertised as self-discovery, deep-reaching contemplation, and taking the nitty-gritty of everyday life by the proverbial horns.

It was just what I had been looking for.

At twenty six, I felt old. Seeing my friends marrying off and “settling down” had been a shock. Them pairing off for life while I flitted unhappily from one relationship to the other seemed damn unfair. At this point, Mr. Right was far from my objectives. I just wanted something more than these intense, short-lived flames I had. Temperamental, yes. Self-critical, yes. I had a tried and true case of a finicky artist’s personality. My friends consoled me that there was someone out there that could cool my fiery manner, but I still had my doubts.

I had started using my journal as a foster lover, someone to replace those long nights of intimate conversations that I rarely had the pleasure of having, and quickly found writing for myself to be the intellectual challenge I craved.

Following Gavin’s words, I found myself appraising him as I did most people. He had the typical arrogant air of a college-worthy teacher, but he managed to quiet the class down and gain full attention without raising his voice. Quite an accomplishment for anyone. Guessing ages had never been a strong suit, but he remained a total enigma to me. He had that subtle charm of a suave movie star at his peak but retained a gentlemanly appearance.

As he finished and asked for volunteers, I immediately perked at the suggestion. It’s true what they say, you never get a second chance at a first impression. Public speaking had never been a real hitch for me, I was naturally out going and self-confidence came with the business. After years of accepting harsh criticism, I had finally developed that coveted tough skin to what other people think.

“Professor...”

Coughing slightly to get his attention, I slipped from my seat and began, occasionally raking fingers through my feathered raven black hair as I spoke.

“My name is Leandra, which is Latin for lioness. Quite suitable, really, because that’s how I feel when I write. Words are elusive creatures and it takes much more than a timid hand to put them in their place. I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil and I’ve been published a few times. Poetry is my forte, but this summer I started work on my first novel. Journal writing has always been a way to let off some steam at the end of a tough day, so I figured if I was going to do it I better learn how to do it right.”

 

[Guest]

Well I'll give this a try... don't knwo how good I'll be though...


Name: Adrian Matthew
Age: 26
Hair: Short, Red Curly
Skin: Alabaster with red freckles all over his cheeks and nose.
Personality:
He's vibrant and friendly, cheerful and a good buddy to all... though he is a red head, he gets picked on a lot... and dates are few and far between but he's a little sexually confused anyways... he's never been in a male/male relationship... but he's had his fantasies and thinks he might like it...

As a journalist, he's not one. He'd like to try though, and he thought this class might be a good idea... not to mention something to do... He isn't a miraculous writer, never on the school newspaper or anything... but it sounds fun...

He stayed to the back, not wanting to volunteer any information but after Leandra, the girl beside him spoke all eyes just naturally drifted to him, waiting for the next in line to speak. He flashed a grin, but inside he was paranoid having just listened to her he knew he was outdone...

"Well, hey all. M'names Adrian. Ummm nothin' special about it... I think it means ____."

He shrugged akwardly,

"I'm actually a novice, never really written much before... I took Creative writing and things like that in high school and a little in college but nothing serious like Leandra. I'm not a poet by any means, I'm more the novel kind of a guy. Short stories, fiction, that kind of thing.. I'm gonna be the guy in the corner with no idea what he's doing."

He chuckled a bit,

"But I'll try."

 

[Adrian_Matthew]

OOps my post didn't work for the Origin of his name...

"Well it comes from hadrian I believe... latin for From Hadria. Which is some town in Italy... That I'm not from."

He chuckled,

"Go figure."

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

“Well, thanks, Leandra, Very pretty name. I can see the lion in you. I’m a triple Leo myself, so we’ll probably get along well, or maybe we’ll devour each other.” Gavin was vaguely aware of the double entendre of his words, and acutely aware that Leandra was a handful of passion. For a moment he doubted whether he would be able to rise to the challenge of managing the energy of such a class. Emotions can run very high when the goal was to shed inhibitions. And establishing boundaries could get very tricky. She was stunning. And that thing she did with her hair made him shudder. What was it in those glazed eyes of hers, fixed upon an unknown destination? Time would tell.
Gavin was grateful when Adrian jumped into the silence and took everyone’s attention off his own dumbstruck face. "And Adrian, you shouldn't worry about not knowing what you're doing. The beauty of journal writing is there is no right or wrong. Because it's yours, whatever you write is right."
"Anyone else?"

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

Gavin looked around the roomful of faces hoping to find another willing participant. He considered just calling on someone, but his experience had always been better when the students themselves took the intitiative.

Leandra continued to fascinate him, and from what he could tell, she had captured the attention of others as well. Perhaps he would have to snap every one out of their daze.

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

"So -- Leandra mentioned that she's been keeping a journal for some time. Do any of the rest of you have any experience with journal writing?"

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Leandra

I offered Adrian a sidelong smile as I glanced in his direction before returning my attentions to the front of the room. Most others seemed to have turned suddenly shy, a sharp contrast to the rowdy nosiness, taunting cat calls, and general chaos of earlier.

Tracing the embossed letters on the cover of my crimson journal, I idly waited for the next brave soul to step forth and say their piece.

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

Clearly it would take some time to shed the inhibitions here, despite the energy flowing from these creatures earlier. Gavin decided to take a detour from introductions.
"Before we continue with the introductions, let me give you some idea of what your assignment will be over the weekend. I want each of you to write in your personal journal as explicitly as you can about your first sexual experience, be it good or bad, long or short, long ago or this afternoon -- I want you to put as much of your 'self' into it as you can, the part of you that only YOU know. You're the only one that will see what you write, and years from now, I guarantee you, you'll be grateful that you did this exercise."
As he spoke Gavin was glancing around the room, weighing the reactions to his directive. Even the bold Leandra seemed at least slightly uncomfortable. His mind wandered to the possibilities of Leandra's first experience. And much to his surprise he felt a stirring in his loins as his blood rushed to the party. Snap out of it, Gavin. You've got a class to teach. He glanced at Leandra to see if she had noticed anything. Her smile was warm and universal, but unrevealing.
"Then, I want you to take your time going back through what you have written, and pick out those parts that you are willing to share, anonymously, with the class. I, of course, will have your class journals and know who wrote what, but you can trust me," he winked his wickedest wink at nobody in particular, "I'll protect your confidences."
Again he panned the room for reactions. "Any questions?"

 

[chanaud]

Kelly Owens

22 years old
Long chestnut hair always pulled back with a headband
Matching chestnut brown eyes
Tall slender



Her schooling were in an all girls Catholic boarding school. Since her graduation from college last year, Kelly is still trying to find her niche in life. Her parents and friends automatically assume she will marry and are constantly introducing her to potential wealthy husbands. But her shyness and niaveness seem to scare them away after the first date.

The only reason why Kelly enrolled in this class was her dedication to her diary from when she was a little girl. It was the only thing she did well in. After a few short minutes, she felt out of place, once again. She was awestruck by the bantering between the students and Professor Gavin and after hearing their first assignment, she knew she definately did not belong in his class.



Behind all the heads, in the very last row a hand rises slowly.

Yes? Inquired Professor Gavin.

A timid voice cries out. "What if we've never had a sexual experience?"

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

"I was so hoping that this class would be the type that asks good questions," he smiled broadly and felt collective relaxation happen almost instantly.

"One thing I want you all to remember: in THIS class, the only stupid question is the one you DON'T ask. I hope that we are all going to become the best of friends here. We'll be sharing a lot with each other. Even when we aren't talking about sex, what we do here will be extremely intimate."

He let that sink in for a moment.

"But to answer your question more directly, we've all had sexual experiences. It doesn't have to be about intercourse, to use the clinical word, or getting laid to use the street jargon. We all have sexual thoughts and fantasies. Some of you men are reported to have them every twenty seconds. And i suspect some of the women here aren't far off that mark. So write about what is relevant to 'you', write about when you were first aware of the magical place between man and woman, or man and man, or woman and woman. Write about shopping for romance novels if that's what moves you. But WRITE, and do it from the heart."

The class was buzzing again, and Gavin again felt that he would be able to lead this motley group to know themselves better than they already did.

"So, voice in the back, tell us about yourself. Please."

 

[BadForm]

Recuerde Martinez

When she stood, the class gasped. Six feet nine inches tall, she had the stocky build of someone who enjoyed both exercise and food. That made her a giant. She was beautiful in an exotic way, skin dark as ebony and eyes which glowed like the light from two coals. Few of the others had failed to notice her striding the halls. At 18, she was also one of the youngest in the class.

"The name's Recuerde Martinez. My dumb-ass mom figured it would be good to give me a name meaning remember." She shrugged before continuing. "I'm here 'cos I gotta be. I'm a science major, but this stoopid college says I gotta have some humanities an' this sounds better than bullshit like sociology. My question's simple. You really sure you wanna hear about our first sexperience? Cos for some of us it was too early and too nasty."

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Leandra

I flushed slightly at the assignment, both at it's intimate context and exciting night of homework it was sure to provide. Already my mind was kicking into overdrive, but I reminded myself this was only one journal entry and to keep my zealousness down to a few pages. This was not a topic I normally wrote about, but I was sure I could put my heart into it.

When I turned to look with the rest of the class at the girl in the back, I noticed a pretty, over-dressed brunette out of the corner of my eye. She was blushing furiously at Gavin's words, and I felt a momentary pang of sympathy for her as she averted her eyes and toyed with the BiC pen in her hands. Hiding my smile at Recuerde's comments behind one hand, I glanced in Gavin's direction, surprised to find him looking at me once again. Since the first time I had spoken, he had seemed determined to uncover my secrets. Perhaps as equally determined as I was to keep them hidden.

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

"Recuerde. Recuerde. It's really beautiful, you know. Your mom may have been on to something. Yes, I do. I want to hear, well, read, to the extent that you're willing to share. It doesn't have to be pretty -- it just has to be a piece of you. Sometimes the best thing you can do with things you want to forget, is to remember them in detail. Remember, Recuerde."

Once again Leandra caught him stealing a glance at her, and once again he got a shiver wondering about her secrets. Gavin caught Adrian looking at the clock and realized their time was up for the day.

"Looks like we've run out of time today. Do your best, we'll see you again on Monday. If anyone has any questions, I'll be hanging around for a bit after class. Oh, and by the way, my office is down the hall, Room 213. You never can tell when I might be lurking there."

 

[chanaud]

I snuck out the backdoor unnoticed while the students swarmed around Professor Gavin. Sitting on the outdoor park bench, I pulled out a piece of my personalized stationary and started scribbling madly.


December 7, 2001

Dear Professor Gavin,

Please permit me to withdraw from your course. This has nothing to do with you or your credentials, I just feel this class is too far advanced for my lack of writing skills.

I regret wasting your time and wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,
Kelly Owens


As I passed the class, I noticed everybody had gone their separate ways. I stood outside his office and noticed a dim light on and his dark silhouette sitting at the desk. Trying to be as quiet as possible, I folded the note and slipped it under his door.

 

[Mistress Jorja]

Leandra

Flashing Gavin a smile as I passed, I pressed the pile of books cradled in my arms to my chest as I threaded my way through the throng of students flooding the front of the classroom and spilling out into the halls.

Outside on the sprawling campus green, I looked around for a quiet spot to write, finally settling for a bench bathed in the shade of a stately willow tree. Dropping Selected Writings of Sigmund Freud, The Count of Monte Cristo, and a variety of other texts in a haphazard pile, I tucked my legs beneath me as I rummaged through my purse for a pen. Flipping open my journal, I searched the open spaces dotted with strolling couples and a few of the jocks playing frisbee for inspiration to spark my insights.

 

[Adrian_Matthew]

I returned Leandra's smile but then moved my eyes lazily to the boring black notebook that layed before me. Maybe this wasn't the class for me... I can't write.

I sighed a bit then looked up listening to the first assignment, the teacher trying awkwardly to quell the silence that had fallen over the class. I'd barely noticed. I blushed slightly at the thought, he would read it... not to mention the "personal" class... I had no problem with us all being friend. But Sexually I wasn't sure I wanted to share...


I toyed with my pencil in my hands trying not too look as awkward as I felt in this class. I glanced towards Gavin and sighed, letting my head fall to rest on my hand, fingers curling in my hair. I hope this works out allright... I watched as he kept glancing towards leandra, his face hidden but I could see the masked look of embarassment. The corner of my mouth turned up in the smallest of smiles... He had a bit of a crush.

Another girl raised her hand, she seemed more tentative then I. Her hand quivered slightly as she shamefully asked her question,

"What if we've never had a sexual experience?"

Gavin immediately did everything he could to relieve the tension of that question, and the girl who'd asked embarassment.

I only half listened as another girl continued on, my mind rolling over the assignment, striving to remember as much as possible...

Before I knew it time was up, I gathered my books and flashing a grin to the shy girl in hopes of cheering her up. I put out my hand as we left,

"Hi. Adrian."

 

[BadForm]

Recuerde Martinez

So, the whiteboy wanted to know the first sexual experience whatever did he? Well, the details of how my older brother had raped me would remain a secret, but I could rock his world with the results. I learned even before dear bro made his move that the best things to do in life are watch, adapt and excel. At everything. Especially at revenge. And that I would tell him, because whatever I said could not be proven.

The Sistahs. A black and latina girl gang half-ways running downtown with The Bluebloods were my revenge. I found a way to join them and let them know what had happened. Its amazing how an eighteen year old boy who can attack his much younger sister has no chance against eight to ten armed Sistahs out for revenge. We'd gone slow, real slow. And when we were finished, he was still alive... but he'd never pull a stunt like that again. He had nothing to pull it with.

Afterwards, we'd selected a couple of us to take the fall. That worked too. It always paid to have someone inside juve - it was an easy life and meant she got information back to the rest of us about what else was going down in the rest of the city. Besides, there were always new tricks to learn in prison. New tricks to make the gang better.

So I wrote about our revenge. I left the names out, of course... and I added some details that, if anyone ever did think to check, would be false - that way it would seem just like revengeful wish fulfilment. I smiled. If the white boy teacher believed it, he'd be shocked. Hell, if he didn't he'd STILL be shocked.

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

The class ended in a flurry of activity, many students quickly slipping out to their next class, or their long anticipated weekend. Some crowded around Gavin, looking for clarification of some sort about what they should say, or not say, or had to say, or couldn't say. He assured them all that whatever they wrote, it would be the right thing, that each of them should handle the assignment in an entirely personal way, using their own paradigms to determine what was appropriate.

At last with the room empty, Gavin sat on the edge of the desk, exhausted, elated, and encumbered with the knowledge that he, too, had to perform here, that even tho he was better prepared for it, he was under far more pressure to produce something worthwhile than he would ever put them under.

Some movement at the door caught his eye. Gavin looked but there was nothing. Then a head rose from below and walked quickly away. He strode to the door, saw it was one of his students, and opened the door. "Kelly? Could I see you for a moment?"

Gavin had been particularly concerned with Kelly's reaction to the assignment. She seemed younger, more naive than the rest, and seemed very troubled by his challenge. He had hoped to reassure her about it, but she had left too quickly for them to speak. She looked back at him, timidly, and for a moment he thought she would run, or . . . burst into tears.

 

[chanaud]

I froze in place like a deer caught in a headlight while the warm rush of embarassment crept up my neck, to my cheeks. I was surprised he remembered my name. It usually takes half a semester for the professors to even know my existence.

His large warm hands covered mine and pulled me in his office.

ermmm...Professor Gavin... I bent down to pick up my note. This is for you.

Still holding my hand, he gave me a warm, gentle smile. We are casual at this university. Please call me Gavin. Don't tell me you finished your first assignment already.

I looked down at his hands still holding mine and blushed again. I'm sorry G..G..Gavin, but it's a note to withdraw from your class..

His finger reached for my chin, lifted it so I was forced to meet his eyes.

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

I took her hands in mine and pulled her toward the office. As we passed through the door, she bent and picked up a note. As she handed it to me, "ermmm...Professor Gavin...this is for you."

"We are very casual at his university. Please call me Gavin. Don't tell me you finished your first assignment already." I smiled, trying to break the ice with a joke.

"I'm sorry, g-g-Gavin, but it's a note to withdraw from your class."

My heart stopped. I lifted her chin so I could see her beautiful eyes. "I'm so sorry. I hope I haven't made you uncomfortable. I was trying to give the class something to get them revved up, and I did worry that I might offend someone." I paused as a tear welled up in her eye. "I wanted to explain to you as I had some of the others, that you can write about ANYthing. You can wrtie about what you did for your summer vacation. I just want you to write. I gave this assignment because some day you'll be glad you have it. And let me tell you a secret, that none of the others know. At the end of the class I'm going to have you repeat the same assignment, because I want you to have the two versions to compare, to understand the growth that took place here. I hope you'll reconsider and stay, but of course, if you want to withdraw . . ."

I looked down at the note in my hand, and tears came to my own eyes. What had I done to this poor innocent lovely creature?

 

[chanaud]

His finger still holding my chin, I was forced to watch his eyes mist over. Oh no, what have I done? He thinks he offended me!

"Please Gavin, you didn't offend me at all!" It's amazing how easily his name flowed through my lips. "I was just embarassed to admit that I'm 22 years old, and never once had a sexual experience. I wouldn't possibly know where to start.

I leaned into him, our bodies close but not yet touching; my fingertip lightly brushed the little bit of wetness from the corners of his eyes.

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

"Please Gavin, you didn't offend me at all!" Kelly offered as she leaned closer and wiped a tear from my eye. "I was just embarassed to admit that I'm 22 years old, and never once had a sexual experience. I wouldn't possibly know where to start.

Our faces were so close I could feel her breath move past my brow. I could smell the sweet scent of youth on her skin. I could feel the heat radiating from her flushed face. I could see every pore. I lifted my head so that our eyes were inches away, and as our noses brushed against each other, she parted her lips to receive a kiss. I whispered to her, not because I was fearful that anyone else would hear, everyone had long ago left, but because the moment was so intimate, so filled with heightened emotions that whispering was all that I could do.

"Kelly, you have nothing to be embarassed about. You are a beautiful and sensitive women with the best part of your life at your fingertips. We all evolve in different ways, with different rhtyhms -- but it's always right. My grandma used to tell me whenever I would be worried about something 'Don't worry, Gavin, it always works out in the end.' And she was soooo right, it always did. And it will for you, too. Please don't leave becuase the assignment is difficult for you. Rise to it, find an angle that works for you, and give it your best. Like I said I don't care what you write about, as long as you learn to love writing. And I suspect you already do love to write."

She nodded slightly, and our faces came even closer. "And now, Kelly, I hope that you'll forgive me, but I'm going to do something that I certainly shouldn't." My hand gently cradled her cheek and pulled her to my hungering lips. My mouth pulled at her lower lip, tasting for the first time this extraordianry woman. I inhaled deeply of her stirring jujices. Our mouths became one, Kelly responding with the enthusiasm of a woman deprived. Her tongue found mine and they danced lightly around between lips that couldn't get enough. I was conscious, of course, that I had crossed an ethical line in the sand that could cost me my job, but having always been a man that lived in the moment, and having examined my heart that I meant this creature no harm, I was determined not to miss THIS moment.

 

[chanaud]

That tear had hit touched something deep inside the pit of my stomach. A feeling I have never experienced before. I knew he was unlike any other man I have met. I didn't see him as my professor. What I saw before me was a handsome sophisticated knight, who has come to release the woman deep inside me.

I stood there leaning into him with my head tilting towards him, my lips slightly apart. It was just like how my heroines in romance novels await for their first kiss. But as soon as our tongues met, I knew no book could ever describe what I was feeling now.

Subconsciously, I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him closer as our tongues danced. He froze for a brief moment, almost as if he was hesitating. But my tongue continued exploring; brushing along his teeth, his gums and back to his tongue. Our tongues continued dancing. Gently at first, then intensifying sending tingles down my body, which released a moan.

 

[TheOlderGuy]

Gavin

I was hypnotized. The kiss was endless, self-perpetuating. My hands had begun to explore her tall slender body. I lightly stroked her long neck, pausing to release a gorgeous chestnut mane which flowed across her shoulders. I couldn't believe that this vision of beauty had never been loved before. She wore a sleeveless dress allowing me to tease her flesh from her shoulders all the way to her fingertips, and back again. I did the same with her legs, each time venturing a little farther into the humid warmth between her thighs. She shuddered, she moaned, she panted - all the while our lips continuing a journey of exploration.

There was a natural pause, our eyes meeting in thirsty union, her brilliant brown eyes alive with discovery. She looked like she was going to speak, but I silenced her with a finger to her lips.

I liftes her to the edge of the desk, lifting her skirt above her waist and sliding her panties from beneath her perfect ass. As I slid them down each leg, I kissed each inch, gently parting her legs once her feet were free of their noose. She seemed never to doubt me, and that in itself was highly erotic. I kissed my way between her thighs and around her lower belly, my hands finding new avenues to explore, each hand on a mission to deliver joy.

Reaching under her blouse I was surprised to discover her braless, and her nipples eager to be played with. My tongue probed deeper into her virgin turf, until it found its prey, hiding hooded and shy, but fully ready to surrender. I could only imagine what she was feeling, as we rose and twisted toward a release of energy she must never have known she had stored inside her. I stayed there, intent on pushing her orgasm to its max, tho she struggled to pull away. When the waves subsided I still stayed, sweetly sucking the last bit of juice from her swelled lips.

At last I withdrew my face, and looked her lovingly in the eyes, "Don't you have some homework to do, young lady?"