FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Pal stared at his alarm clock, and the red numbers stared right back at him. He had twelve minutes before it would blare the six o'clock hour. The young arctic fox was asleep by his side, tucked with a protective arm. Tim had spent the night with Pal many times, especially when the arctic fox's parents were in a dangerous episode of yelling, and sharing the bed was commonplace. Tim always ended up laying on the bear in some odd way or another like now, but never had either been naked together during a single night. Sure one changed while the other's back was respectfully turned, but neither overstepped any boundaries. The hard truth nagged at him worse than any guilt. He had just sexually pleasured himself and a minor the night before. There wasn't any reason to deny that truth and the middle aged bear knew better than that.

'I just want him to be happier.' He looked down at the innocent youth, rubbing his side. The soft white fur ruffled under his large fingers. Pal first met Tim years ago when the poor arctic fox's parents were just starting to fight and quarrel continuously. He was good friends with Tim's dad, Frank, from their younger days of working at the local fire department. However, somewhere between leaving the local fire department and having a son, Frank had drank himself into alcoholism with his wife. This circumstance left Tim without much of a family in a rough home to grow up in. Pal knew what it was like to grow up in a hostile home all too well. His parents were abusive alcoholics too, but their abuse was physically rather than verbal. 'Time to get up.' Pal turned the alarm off with a minute to get up. The brown bear carefully edged out of bed without stirring the fox, and walked across the carpet floor. His padded feet lightly brushed over the surface before reaching the doorway. Pal quietly padded into the kitchen to start a cup of coffee. The warmth from the bed was dearly missed as he felt his privates jiggle in the cooler hallway air. The kitchen light flicked on followed by the coffee maker.

Cabinets and even the kitchen were bypassed except for a mug. The bear could get something to eat on his way into town. He quietly snuck back into his room to gather his clothes and prepare to leave for work. Tim slept undisturbed while Pal dug through a drawer or two and the closet. The bear stood in the doorway with an armful of clothing and looked back at the peacefully sleeping fox in his bed. 'Sleep well buddy.' He bit his lip walking back to the kitchen. Tim had another hour before he would need to rise. The bear poured himself a cup back in the kitchen. The smell filled his olfactory perfectly. Pal sipped the warm beverage and stared down at his body. He looked beyond his rounded belly at his nether regions where the fox had so ardently been attracted to. Frottage hadn't crossed his mind since seriously pursuing romance in his younger years. 'Maybe this is a passing phase.' He thought of all the things he did during his teenage years. The claws on his toes clicked mindlessly on the wooden floor as the coffee loosened his anxiety somewhat. He set the mug down and started to dress. Underwear, pants, shirt, tucking the shirt... It was the quietest morning he had with Tim sleeping over.

The bear slipped his socks on and looked up at the refrigerator for a moment. The fox knew how to make himself breakfast and get ready for school starting at his friend's house. He solemnly drank the last of his brewed cup before lacing up his work boots. Plodding footsteps exited the room, pausing once to cut the light off. The front door quietly closed as the bear left.

The forty five year old bear stepped inside his home with a big sigh. His mind had been focused about last night during work. The clock ticked a few minutes past two thirty as he plodded into the kitchen. The bear sighed again taking a seat in a chair by the table. He went through his daily ritual of untying his work boots before taking a black sock off his foot.

"Tim needs..." Pal paused to think. "A good loving home." The bear pulled the other black sock off his other foot. No one was there for the bear when he was Tim's young age. Both of his parents were like Tim's, abusive and uncaring. The bear stood up and strolled to his bedroom. Pal fished out a pair of fresh white socks for his feet and quietly put them on. The bear lingered by the hallway before heading back to the kitchen. "Huh?" Pal turned seeing a small yellow sticky note on the fridge. With Tim being shy, it wasn't uncommon for the arctic fox to leave a note during the morning when he left the house for school. The bear pulled it off the fridge and held it to the light.

'Thank you Pal!' Was written in pencil with notable messiness.

Tim jumped up the front porch steps to Pal's front door. It was almost three o'clock, and the arctic fox had just gotten out of school. He would visit the bear often after a school day, and Pal's house was far better than his. The arctic fox turned the doorknob knowing that the bear left it unlocked throughout the day. The house smelled friendly to the fox as he stepped inside and shut the door wearing an evident grin. Pal's work boots, which were simply steel toed, were at the doorway to the kitchen along with a pair of sweaty black socks. The bear always changed into a fresh white pair when he arrived home from work before he took a typical nap on the sofa. Tim set his book bag beside the footwear, kicked off his shoes, and looked for the big brown bear.

'My note is gone.' He noticed leaving the kitchen. The fox's mind had been fixated on last night's events for most of the day. Tim found his friend sitting on the end of the couch, but instead of laying down to nap the bear was staring at the opposing wall deep in thought. "Afternoon Pal." Tim said making the bear jump.

"Tim! Sorry, I didn't hear you come in." The brown bear sat up straight seeing the arctic fox standing by the armrest.

"You're not watching tv?" The fox noticed the dark screen.

"Oh. I was about to take a nap, that's all." Pal looked away. The bear needed some time to think over the situation, how to properly tell Tim about last night, and resolve any future problems all in one talk. The ursine might develop a headache if he thought about it much more.

"Um. Can I ask you something before you take a nap?" The fox stalled holding the edge of the couch.

"Don't feel afraid, you can ask me anything." Pal rubbed the vulpine's back. He looked back up at his friend gaining confidence.

"Is it alright if I see you naked again?" Tim nervously asked. Black tipped ears lied flat against his skull. Pal held his tongue, but didn't see any harm with the request.

"Sure. Just ask anytime you're here." Pal grinned.

"What about now?" Tim's ears perked up at full attention. "I mean... since you're just lying there." The innocent intrigue and excitement caught Pal by surprise.

"Alright." Pal softly said, stood up, and unbuttoned his jeans. "But when I'm done resting we'll have to do something else." He let the pants pool around his feet before stepping out of them. The bear slipped his shirt off revealing his rounded stomach and most of his brown fur. His underwear was finally slipped off last revealing his package, big and beautiful as it always was to the little fox. Tim's eyes brightened as fascination filled them. Pal couldn't help but grin and feel the guilt from earlier slip away seeing the young fox cheer up at the sight of his most intimate area. "You're more excited than when you found a box of brownie mix in the cabinet a few months ago." The bear lied down on the couch and left his legs partially open for the fox's eyes to see. Tim sat down by the bear's paws but didn't move forward. His brown eyes were glued to the bear's male hood and equipment resting before him. "I bet you're staring at my socks." The bear grinned jokingly. Pal did look silly wearing a pair of white socks without anything else. Tim started to reach out, but retracted his hand shyly.

"C-can I touch them again?" Tim felt confident enough to ask. Pal invitingly spread his legs for him without opening an eye. Tim's ears perked up and the fox scooted between the ursine's large legs. A hand reached out and touched the pouch below. 'They're warm.' He grinned lightly petting the fuzzy wrinkled skin that was crowded in a pair of pants moments ago. His other hand lifted the bear's resting penis and felt up the soft organ. Tim carefully played with the ursine genitals while his friend tried to nap. Pal could clearly feel everything being fondled and caressed with delicate curiosity.

'I need to talk to him.' The bear thought to himself wondering what to say. After ten minutes with the curious fox between his legs, Pal sat up and rested his hands on Tim's shoulders. The fox's happy expression faded seeing that the bear had a more serious look in his soft brown eyes. "Tim, you need to know that this isn't appropriate. I'm supposed to be a responsible adult, and what happened last night... and now, shouldn't happen." Pal told the youngster with a soft but steady voice.

"I know." He nodded. "I've never seen someone else naked before... And I liked it." The vulpine bit his lip.

"You liked last night that much?" Pal's ears dialed forward.

"Mmhm. When mom and dad yell a lot at home," he started to whimper, "you're always here for me when they fight or when I'm lonely and afraid." The arctic fox scrunched his nose with a concerned look and pinned his ears. Pal leaned forward and gave his friend a hug. The vulpine's nose inhaled the bear's masculine scent enveloping him. The big warm hug reassured Tim instantly.

"Don't worry. I'm here." He patted the fox's back stopping any chance of crying. Tim gathered himself before letting Pal undo the the warm embrace.

"Thanks." He gave a small grin.

"So why do you like seeing me naked?" Pal changed the subject from something painful.

"I-I don't know why, but I um. I like them because they're apart of you." The fox pointed between the bear's legs feeling unsure of himself.

"What? You like my private parts?"

"I just like them." He shrugged with a nod. "Is it wrong if I do?"

"Hey there's nothing wrong with being gay." Pal's voice turned cheerful again. "Look how I turned out. On second thought, don't comment about the weight." The bear pushed the fox onto his back.

"Hey!" Tim giggled sitting up as Pal walked to the side of the couch.

"You have plenty of time to figure yourself out and you don't need anyone telling you who you should be."

"I'm Tim." He sat up with a smile.

"That's right." Pal nodded and reached for his pants on the floor.

"Hey, can you stay naked?" Tim asked, interrupting the bear.

"Stay naked. Why?"

"I like how you look naked." Tim nervously grinned feeling warmth under his cheeks. The bear smiled and rubbed his chin before dropping his jeans.

"Then I must look good for all to see!" Pal said in a deep telecaster's voice and gave a heroic pose with his hands on his waist. Tim laughed at the spectacle. "What are you laughing at?" Pal ruffled the fox's head fur.

"You're a big fuzzy bear!" Tim jumped off the couch smiling broadly. The little fox hugged the bear.

"You're right. I am." Pal hugged him back. The fox nuzzled his face into the bear's warm fur. The big ursine was comfy and smelled nice.

'Oh.' He felt something against his tummy. Tim undid the hug and looked between the bear's legs, but Pal stepped back.

"We have plenty of time in the evening for other things, but I need to prepare something to eat for dinner. And while I'm doing that, don't you have homework from school?"

"You're right!" Tim remembered about his schoolwork and ran into the kitchen where his backpack was. Zippers were undone and the fox pulled out an algebra textbook.

Tim looked over and saw Pal enter the kitchen naked. His package jiggled and swayed with each relaxed step. The arctic fox grinned shuffling through for his homework folder.

There were so many questions bubbling in his young mind that he wanted to ask that he never could before. But that could wait for later in the day. Tim sat down at the table and opened up his algebra book where a page of half finished problems remained unsolved. The adult brown bear pulled out a frozen chicken breast to thaw but had little else to do for preparation.

"How about a grilled cheese sandwich to help you think?" Pal offered.

"Yes please!" Tim said nibbling on his pencil before scribbling down an answer. A plate with the treat was soon delivered.

"Thank you!"

"I'll make one and join you." The bear prepared a second one.

"Do you know slope and intercept?" Tim wiggled his nose staring at the last problem.

"I didn't like math when they added the alphabet to it." Pal scratched his head and peered over Tim's head to read the problem.

"Neither did I." The fox wrote down a hopeful answer.

"But I do know that my sandwich is done." Pal flipped it into a plate and joined Tim across the table. The fox set his math aside. Tim took a big bite and hummed tasting the crunchy buttered bread and melted cheese. Lips joyfully smacked, devouring the small meal leaving behind only crumbs on the plates. "Mmm. Good if I don't say so myself." Pal nodded licking a finger.

"Mmhm. You are a good cook." Tim agreed.

"Finish your homework?"

"Mmhm." He nodded.

"Math wizard." Pal smirked. Tim grinned at the compliment. "So how did school go today?"

"It was a normal day. We had a substitute in math today, so we didn't know how to work the assignment.

"I think I drove my math teacher into retirement for being so wild." Tim chuckled at the thought of Pal misbehaving. The clock nearby ticked quietly in the sun filled kitchen.

"What can we do now?"

"Well, I can't cook anything until the chicken thaws..." He scratched his chin in thought. Pal looked down realizing that he didn't need to strip down for a shower. "I still need to take a shower." The fox's ears perked up. "Do you want to take one with me?" Tim's tail wagged and he immediately jumped on the offer. Pal chuckled at the young fox's eagerness and led him down the hall to the full bathroom. Tim peeked around the bear's leg watching his member jiggle with every step he took. In the bathroom, the bear readied two towels but didn't worry about retrieving any night clothes. Pal was well aware of the intent gaze between his legs as he bent over to turn the shower on. Tim's eyes watched the bear's privates roll forward. The flaccid pink member dangled inconspicuously for all to see. "If you stare too long, you might turn into a statue." Pal teased his friend's unblinking eyes.

"Look at how small I am compared to you!" Tim unfastened his jeans and yanked down his underwear showing his smaller package to Pal. His smaller pink member was easily overshadowed by the bear's.

'At least he isn't shy about it anymore.' Pal chuckled. "You know after a few growth spurts I won't be that much bigger than you."

"But bears are always bigger than foxes." He found it difficult to imagine that a fox could be as big as a bear.

"Yours can grow bigger just like mine." Pal reminded him of last night and cut the shower on.

"But it's still smaller." Tim said above the downpour in the tub and stripped his clothes off without waiting to be told. His fluffy white tail swayed standing before Pal naked. A grin emerged along the vulpine's thin black lips.

"Guests first." Pal held the curtain open for him and partially bowed. Tim quickly hopped inside before Pal joined him and closed the curtain. Warm water soaked their fur instantly. Tim felt Pal brush against his side a few times. The confines of the bathtub meant body contact was guaranteed, but the fox clearly felt his friend bump him. "Bum ba bum ba-bum. Bum ba bum ba-bum." The big brown bear made up a tune and wiggled his whole body in an odd groove. Tim watched the odd motions causing Pal's hefty privates to bounce around.

"What are you doing?" Tim laughed watching the bear shake his hips and move from paw to paw.

"Dancing. Haven't you danced in the shower before?" Pal wiggled his ears and tiny tail too.

"No!" He chuckled holding the ursine's privates still so they wouldn't hit him.

"Hmm." He stopped and looked at the small hand holding him. "Since you're so enamored down there why don't you wash me below the waist, and I wash you above the waist?" Pal offered. Tim readily agreed and rubbed his hands with soap. Tim rubbed his hands firmly over the bear's legs while Pal washed his back with gentle hands. Each gathered more suds when needed. He gradually washed Pal's outer thighs, and worked his way inside. His little fingers carefully brushed against the bear's scrotum as he washed his brown inner thighs. Pal parted his legs for Tim, and the fox eagerly cupped the bear's fuzzy scrotum when he finished. His smaller white fingers massaged the skin and orbs inside. Pal's privates weren't warm anymore from airing out since he took off his jeans, but they captivated the arctic fox's attentions just the same. Pal smiled while the vulpine cradled his ursine package. The gentle fondling felt nice. Tim lifted an arm as Pal's large hand washed up the fox's side. The arctic fox snickered feeling a claw tickle him in the process.

"Geeheehee." He smiled trying to stand still and wash the bear's privates as Pal tickled his armpit. Tim twisted and giggled feeling another claw run up and down his other underarm. "Heehee-hey!" Tim protested.

"What? I'm done washing you." The bear retracted his hands and knowingly grinned rubbing over the white furred tummy before giving a satisfied nod. Tim gave him a suspicious eye but finished washing between his legs before moving down to the bear's knees. Pal washed his whole upper body as Tim worked his way down two large brown calves. He watched the fox kneel by his paws and wash of the tops."What? Do you want to wash my paws?" The bear asked.

"Yes, you said below the waist." The fox insisted. Pal gladly sat down on the small ledge in the corner of the bathtub and exposed the bottom's of his feet and four toes, giving Tim a perfect opportunity for revenge. The fox lathered his hands again and rubbed the black leathery pad. Pal relaxed into the gentle rubs, but the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile feeling a dull claw tracing over his pad.

"What's going in down there?" He said in a steady voice before a chuckle escaped.

"Nothing!" Tim smiled. "I'm just washing your giant paw!" The arctic fox gave a happy grin.

"Of course. Heheh." Pal's foot gently wiggled feeling a claw scratching somewhere above his heel. Tim moved to the other foot and a few more chuckles ensued, but in the end both ursine pads were clean. "You have sharp claws." Pal chuckled standing back up. Tim gave the bear a thumbs up. "That makes us even." He turned the vulpine around and hugged him. Tim leaned back against Pal feeling their wet fur slush together. The two rinsed off under the warm water together.

"This is nice." Tim whispered to himself holding the bear's legs. The bear patted Tim creating a wet slapping noise. Tim felt the bear's belly nudge his body as Pal bent forward to cut the shower off. "That was the most fun I had taking a shower." Tim shook his body and scattered droplets everywhere.

"Me too. Next time you'll have to dance with me." Pal insisted and shook his hips making the vulpine laugh again.

"Don't bump me!" The arctic fox laughed. Pal handed Tim a towel and another for himself. The duo dried themselves off with plenty more opportunities to make the other laugh at a silly spectacle or joke. They smoothed their fur the best they could before leaving the bathroom naked. Tim didn't mind being naked with Pal, in fact, he liked it. The arctic fox stayed in the doorway as his friend walked into the bedroom. Tim expected the Pal to retrieve a night shirt or something, but the brown bear instead sat down on the bedside waiting for the arctic fox to join him.

"We need to talk about what's on your mind." He gave a reassuring grin. The bear patted the spot beside him on the king size bed and Tim bounced over.

"What exactly happened last night?" He sat on the bed with Pal. The bear took a moment to take a deep breath.

"Okay... To put it simply we ejaculated together because I masturbated us." He spoke slowly finding it strange to say the words. "Do you understand?" Tim nodded. He knew what the words meant from slang and dirty talk at school. The bear brought an arm around the young one's shoulders. "It's normal to be curious about your body and everyone else's at your age. You're entering the full depths of puberty where your body starts to change and noticing differences in others will be second nature. You'll sport plenty of erections out of nowhere now." Pal made it sound like an adventure story.

"And touching it feels good." Pal gave a hesitant nod.

"I didn't want to scare you and shout that you shouldn't touch someone there, because I know you would never try to hurt anyone. You looked so happy too, and then I got carried away..." He shrugged.

"That's ok Pal. I trust you." Tim brought an arm around the bear's side and hugged his friend.

"Thanks." Pal rubbed the fox's back. "But you should only touch yourself that way if you're alone. I'll give you the privacy that you need. You shouldn't touch someone else unless they give you consent and you're married to them."

"I know." Tim nodded before biting his lip.

"Question?" Pal tilted his head.

"Um... Can I with you?" The fox fiddled with his thumbs.

"I feel like you're testing my morals." The brown bear gave a soft chuckle. "I guess so for today." He conceded. Tim felt his heart skip remembering how much fun last night was and parted his legs for Pal. He bit his lip and watched the large brown hand move to cradle his smaller fox hood, holding it up from its normal down position. The bear's soft black padded hand started gently stroking up and down his small length. The warmth from his pads alone was enough to excite the little fox, but the fact that Pal was doing it exited Tim the most. He watched as his pink member twitched twice before starting to grow in the bear's delicate touch. His member grew into a slight bend pointing forward, resembling a gentle arc, as it was sweetly caressed. Fully hardened, Pal lightly squeezed the young erection as he rubbed causing it to jerk in his palm. The arctic fox shuddered in pleasure. Tim's excited heartbeat nearly had his body shaking in Pal's hand.

"Ah." He sighed letting the good feelings grow within his body. The warm pad caressing his whole length was divine. "D-does it feel this good to you?" His toes curled and his hips gently rocked to accentuate the stimulation.

"I don't know exactly what you're feeling." Pal admitted swirling his thumb underneath Tim's glans. "Is it tingly and exciting where your heart beats funny?" He asked.

"Yeah!" The fox nodded.

"It feels that way to me too." He grinned. Tim watched contently as the bear stroked his length as it occasionally jerked. To his surprise, Pal suddenly stopped and retracted his hand. Tim stared at his lap. His smaller pink member was stiff, and throbbing excitedly. "You can try." Pal suggested. Tim curled his hand around his erection and mimicked the same motion.

"Ow!" The fox grunted squeezing himself too hard.

"Woah! You don't want to hurt yourself." Pal grabbed his wrist.

"How do you do it?" Tim asked. The nose on the bear's muzzle wiggled as he stared at his own lap. Tim looked at the bear's male hood nestled neatly between his bulky thighs.

"You need to be gentle." The ursine's legs parted for the fox slightly. Tim reached over and touched the bear's impressive package before lightly petting its entirety. The radiant heat and softness was nice to touch. He carefully pet the smooth flaccid organ, stimulating it to arousal. The bear's penis pulsed and began growing in length and girth. Tim's hand grasped the hardening male hood and lifted it off his sack. He rubbed the fur less length as it stood on its own. Pal sighed and wiggled his toes feeling pleasure tingle warmly down below in his groin. The bear's member grew until it was stiffly throbbing and standing up straight in Tim's smaller hand.

"Am I doing it right?" He didn't stop stroking the bear.

"That's it, soft and gentle." Pal nodded.

"Soft and gentle." Tim nodded feeling Pal's girth twitch in his hand. The organ felt so warm and nice in his palm while being rubbed. Simultaneously it felt powerful and masculine from its thick girth and length, attracting the young fox even more. Veins were visible along the base as well resembling thick tree roots buried under his groin fur "How about you try again on yourself?" The bear suggested. Tim let go allowing the organ to spring up stiffly, but another question rose to the surface.

"Why is yours is pointing straight up?" He felt over the warm skin on top. "Mine has a bend." Tim noticed that his curved slightly before pointing straight ahead whereas Pal's almost pointed straight up without any bend.

"All men have different lengths, widths, and shapes. They're all normal." He reassured the youngster. Tim liked how straight Pal's was though. The fox gripped his length the same way he did with his friends and gently stroked himself. His tail twitched as the desired touch returned.

"Mm." Tim could see why Pal did this last night. The vulpine looked over and saw Pal stroking his thick member the same way as well. The arctic fox grinned looking up at his friend. Pal returned a smile. The two stroked themselves for the next minute or so, giving occasional grunts of pleasure. Tim was the first to feel a strong tingling. "I can feel something." He remembered how similar it was to last night.

"You're really close then." Pal patted his side. The bear moved a trash bin from his bedside to between the young fox's legs. The arctic fox's ears pinned back as he whined breaching the point of no return. Tim watched with wide eyes as a thin rope of white shot out from his penis. More followed dwindling down to a dribble as his member jerked in his hand.

'Woah.' Tim breathed.

"I'm cumming next!" Pal grunted and moved the trash bin to between his legs. The young teen watched the bear arch his back as his rigid member tensed in his hand. A beautiful deep moan flowed past the bear's black lined lips just before large globs suddenly ejaculated from the pink tip and into the bin. The bear's hand continued rubbing the sensitive underside, extending the amount released from the jumping organ. Even those spurts gradually dwindled like the vulpine's did. The fox's ears pivoted at the new quietness, or lack thereof. Tim found himself quietly panting, but smiling. Pal was breathing harder too. The feeling was great. "Need a tissue?" Pal handed him one.

"Thanks." Tim nodded and extended a shaky hand. They wiped their tips clean.

"How did that feel?" Paul asked with a knowing grin.

"Wow." He exhaled making the bear laugh. The lovely affects of a short afterglow warmed the arctic fox, and he experienced it all with Pal. "It's shrinking!" Tim watched the bear's penis gradually return to its flaccid state. The brown bear nodded and pointed at the fox's lap wearing an amused grin. The fox looked down and found that his was shrinking as well. A lot of what Pal told him was making sense now.

"What goes up must come down." Pal said the old cliche. Tim smiled feeling a large hand rub over his side and rested leaned against the bear. His white furred cheek pressed agains the bear's brown shoulder. To his own surprise, Tim yawned. "Are you tired buddy?" Pal asked slowly rubbing the fox's white side.

"Uh-huh." He nodded and nuzzled against the brown bear's warm side.

"It's not even time for dinner yet." Pal smirked.

"I know. Can we take a quick nap though?" Tim looked up at his friend.

"Sure thing Tim." He ruffled the arctic fox's head fur and lied down. Tim snuggled beside the bear and a strong arm laid over his chest keeping the vulpine close. Both looked up at the white ceiling feeling a pleasant wave of contentment blanket them. "It's normal to feel tired after all of that." Pal added watching Tim aimlessly comb his fingers through the bear's short brown belly fur.

"Thanks for explaining everything." The arctic fox quietly spoke.

"No problem buddy."

"I want to do this again."

"What? Do you want me to be naked every time you visit now?" He chuckled.

"Yes." Tim nodded. "But I'll be naked with you." Pal smiled.

"You too?" The bear reached over and jiggled the fox's tummy. Tim giggled until he stopped. "What would the neighbors think?" Tim giggled imagining them playing outside naked.

"I'm glad I can share everything with you." He whispered.

"That's what friends are for." Pal nodded and closed his eyes. Tim held onto the large muscular arm over his chest and laid his head on the bear's chest. His brown eyes looked at Pal a final time before closing. The arctic fox would probably have to go back home tomorrow where life was uncomfortable at best, but at least he would have something invaluable to carry with him this time. Happiness.