With the night's lesson finished, the boys said good night to Eran and crossed the open courtyard to the small room where they slept. Their room had previously been used for family guests and the occasional business visitor. Recently Josh had had the room converted to private quarters for the boys. "You're old enough to work now, so you should have your own place," uncle Josh had said.

John entered first kicking open the door. The heavy wooden door opened slowly hitting the wall with a thud. It was dark inside and smelled of dirty clothes and decaying fruit. The boys liked eating apples from the villa's orchard. There was often a days old pile of apple cores in their room that gave off a sweet smell. Jesus had carried an oil lamp from the main house. He placed it in a small nook in the wall and turned up the flame. The room was only large enough for a single bed so the boys slept together, something that had taken some getting used to.

John poured water from a clay pitcher into a basin on a table near the bed. He began undressing, pulling his robe and loin cloth off in a quick movement. For a moment, he stood completely naked looking over his body in the faint light. He splashed some water on his face and chest and then used a cloth to wash his arms and legs. Jesus sat on the bed and watched his cousin clean himself.

"You should wash up too," John said. "You stink after being at the shop all day. I do too, that's why I clean myself up before getting into bed. I sleep naked, you know," John continued. "If you sleep in your dirty clothes, we might as well sleep on the floor," he said, hoping to cajole Jesus into bathing.

Jesus understood the point John was trying to make. but he was not ready to share his bodies' secrets with his cousin. John was too unpredictable. Jesus worried that John would make fun of him. His mother had always warned him that people, even family, would not understand. "I'll wait for you to finish," he said. He pulled off his robe but left his loin cloth on.

While he waited for John to finish, Jesus lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. He was tired from the long days work. Lugging around heavy planks of wood made his arms and legs ache. The bed was so soft and relaxing; he would have no problem sleeping tonight.

John finished washing and used another cloth to dry himself. He saw Jesus lying on the bed with his eyes closed. He looked to be asleep. "Oh no you don't," John muttered as he reached over to wake him.

Just then Jesus turned onto his side and his loin rode up above his waist. In the faint light John's saw his cousins uncovered crotch. Though lightly covered with pubic hair his cousin's privates were clearly visible. He'd never seen another boy's penis close up. He looked at his own for a moment and then looked back at Jesus. They were not the same.

John's penis hung with his testicles below. Jesus's was smaller and had a cleft, an opening beneath it and above his testicles, which were also smaller. On either side of the opening there were folds of skin like thin lips. John stared for a moment then looked up to see if Jesus was still asleep. Jesus was breathing quietly and seemed unaware either of his own nakedness or of John's inspection. He looked back at Jesus's still visible privates and began to feel an odd sensation, and a kind of fascination. As he watched, his mouth became dry and his own penis began to swell. John leaned forward, bringing his face to within a few inches of his cousin's groin. It was as if he had discovered something rare. His body tingled in response.

"What kind of boy is Jesus?" he wondered. Mesmerized by the sight, John felt confused, but also intrigued. How could this be? How was he finding this out now, after all these years? He couldn't remember ever seeing his cousin naked. He had assumed it was because Jesus was chubby and afraid that others would make fun of him. John did like to tease him for being fat. Little Melon he would call Jesus to get his goat.

Now it was clear there was something more to the modesty. Much more. Surely, the adults knew -- though no one had ever said anything. They called him "son" and "nephew." They said "him," and his name was Jesus -- a boy's name. Why had no one ever told him? John felt left out.

Jesus started to wake up. John quickly turned away, and pretended to still be drying off. Nervous that he might have been caught staring, he did not look at his cousin. He was still reeling from the sight of Jesus's strange, and until now, hidden nature.

When John did look again, Jesus was at the basin, splashing water onto his hair and face. He was naked except of the loincloth. which was once again covering his privates. John stole a another look at his cousins uncovered body. Jesus's chest did seem softer, His breasts looked like a young girl's, but his chest was covered in soft down like other boys their age.

John lay down on the bed and pulled a blanket over his shoulders. He turned onto his side facing away from Jesus. His discovery was strangely exciting and unsettling. His penis was fully erect. Whatever was happening, now was not the time to pursue it. He wasn't sure of what to do about it, anyway. Maybe he would ask Eran to explain it. Eran had seen more of the world. He was a wise and experienced teacher. He would know the cause of this oddity. John was tired and his body was sore after the day's work. It was not long before he fell asleep.

Jesus finished bathing and pulled his robe back on. He didn't care if John slept in the nude; but he wasn't going to. He extinguished the flame of the oil lamp and crawled back into bed staying close to the edge, on his side. The cock's crow, signaling the start of another day, would come soon enough.

(End of Chapter 19)