Two young men from very different backgrounds end up roommates at a state college in west Texas in the latter part of the turbulent sixties. Riki is the black sheep of a wealthy family, on his third and final chance to avoid the draft or disinheritance. His big dream is to be a hot guitarist with a rock band, and he has a weakness for recreational drugs that make him feel better about himself. Jerry is a true son of Bible Belt America, happy to be able to go to college and perhaps rise above the lower middle class level of his family. The two form an unlikely friendship that develops into a deeper bond as they experience drugs, sex, and rock n' roll in their heyday.

Midnight Cowboys

Riki began to wonder why he even bothered. Was life worth it? Maybe he should just give up and run off to Canada. He knew he could make a living selling himself. Or better yet, go to Mexico, where in certain resorts and border towns, the rules were definitely anything goes. He didn’t mention the idea to Jerry because he knew his friend was still too uptight to try anything that crazy. Besides, Jerry could make good grades without half trying and would probably get his degree early and land a great job. At times, envy ate at his soul. Still. he couldn’t really hate or reject the other man. Jerry was just too damn nice. Jerry really cared about people and causes and the principles he’d grown up with.


Chapter 16