When they graduated from high school in 1962, best friends and secret lovers Jim McCutcheon and Ronnie Mayer had high expectations for the rest of their lives. Six years later, both are back in the small Nebraska town they called home, and worse, no longer together.<br><br>Once the golden boy, Jim now works on his grandfather's farm, away from the town's disappointment he didn't end up at NASA. Ronnie lives in his parents' basement, recovering from the blast that sent him home from Vietnam. Neither is where they want to be, but it takes a special request from Ronnie's mom for Jim to swallow his pride and visit.<br><br>Though it doesn't go well, it opens the door for the two young men to start communicating. One question haunts them, though. Have they changed too much to find their way back to each other again?

Silences of Fallen Stars

Jim was filthy. His faded jeans were covered in dust, while the dirt that coated his bare, sweaty chest was even thicker. Grass stains ran down the side of his left leg. He even had some broken leaves stuck in his hair.


Ronnie couldn’t look away from him. Even like this, Jim was the best looking guy he’d ever known.


When he spotted Ronnie, Jim jerked to a halt, looking so surprised he was the spitting image of Grandpa Mac just a few moments earlier. “Did I leave something at your house?” he said in lieu of a greeting.


“No, no.” With the time at hand, his tongue felt thick and awkward around the words he wanted so desperately to get out. “I thought…I wanted to…” None of it was working. What he finally managed was, “I’m bored.”


Chapter 7