All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language, please exit now.
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"BRIARWOOD"
Copyright Ritchris, 2006
A dramatic saga
by
Ritch Christopher
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BOOK NINE
"A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH"
Chapter One-hundred-three
"Loving you is not a choice, it's who I am..."
Of the thousand lyrics Stephen Sondheim has written, this one line remains my favorite. Fosca, who was old, sick, and without good looks sang it to the young handsome, Lieutenant in "Passion". Its words seem to infiltrate the interstices of all the chapters I've written in "Briarwood". R.C.
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It was nearly 1:00am before Roger and Cliff brought Marc back home to Rob and Tim's. Roger, Cliff, Hunter, Lee, Billy, and Marc were still raving about the Broadway show, 'Heelz and Soulz' which they had seen. As they were exiting the theater, Hunter was so enthused by the male dancer troupe, he asked everyone in his group to wait in the lobby until most of the crowd had left. Then Hunter climbed the winding marble staircase which led to the balconies and loge and shouted, "WATCH THIS!". Hunter began tapping his way down the stairs as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly had so often done in the Hollywood musicals. Hunter was agile and deft as a dancer, not only impressing his entourage, but a large group of the audience who had stopped to watch him dance. Once Hunter was down the stairs, he kept tapping around the lobby with intricate dancing steps, including a few leaps and jumps and for a finale, walking up the side of the wall and flipping head over heels as Donald O'Connor did in 'Singin' in the Rain'. Even some of the theatergoers who had left, came back inside to see Hunter dance.
Lee was grinning from ear to ear. Marc and Billy could hardly believe their eyes at Hunter's dancing ability. Roger was beaming with pride. Hunter ended his dance on one knee in front of Cliff and Roger. Hunter was met with thunderous applause from those who had seen him.
Roger took a step forward, assuming the role of Walter Pigeon, playing Florenz Zeigfeld in "Funny Girl" and announced to the cheering spectators, "Ladies and gentlemen, you have just witnessed the premiere performance of one of the bright young stars from my next Broadway production, a musical based on William Inge's 'Dark at the Top of the Stairs'! This young man's name is Hunter Morgan! Now don't ANY of you forget that name because he's going to be a great big Broadway star!"
Hunter took a humble bow as many of the people stopped to congratulate him and tell him how wonderful he danced. Some even asked Hunter for his autograph, in case they couldn't get near him after 'Dark' opened. It was all Lee could do to keep from grabbing Hunter and giving him a big hug and kiss. Needless to say, Cliff was also MORE than impressed. Cliff wished now, after seeing Hunter dance, that he shouldn't have stopped Roger when Roger wanted to insist that Hunter play the role of Sammy to Rob and Tim.
Cliff, Roger, Lee, Marc, and Billy, had all heard Hunter sing at the piano with Tim, but now they had seen him dance. Cliff thought that Hunter had everything! His singing and now his dancing were both outstandingly professional...and to boot, Hunter was a great-looking kid.
Whether Hunter played Sammy or his fellow-cadet, Punky...either way, Hunter was going to be on Broadway. Cliff closed his eyes for a brief moment to say a prayer of Thanksgiving for letting Hunter find his way into their lives, Tim's show, but mostly, Hunter had fallen in love with Lee. Cliff had no doubt whatsoever that all of this was a miraculous plan of God's to give Hunter what he wanted and needed in his life.
Roger walked toward Hunter, putting his arm around Hunter's shoulder and said, "Son, you're not only going to be BIG on Broadway, you're going to be HUGE! Seeing the way you danced just now, convinced me that you, alone, are going to increase my dividend on my investment by several million dollars."
Lee walked to the other side of Roger so that Roger could embrace Lee with his other arm. "Well, Uncle Roger, if Hunter's going to make you THAT kind of money, I hope you'll tell Tim and the director to be sure and pay Hunter what he's worth!"
"Are you kidding?" Hunter, interrupted Lee, "I do that for nothing! I don't NEED the money."
"Maybe not," Roger said, "but I'm sure as heck going to see that you get it!"
Billy and Marc had been having a quiet conversation in the corner of the lobby. Cliff noticed it and asked, "Just what are you two planning so mysteriously?"
Billy turned quickly to Cliff and replied, "Nothing, Daddy Cliff...It's just that tonight has been such a terrific evening, Marc and I don't want it to end."
"So, what do you have in mind?" Cliff asked.
"Is there some place on Broadway that sells ice cream?" Billy replied.
"You bet there is, scout!" Marc spoke up, "only it's down in Greenwich Village."
Billy looked to Roger and said, "Do you think we can go to Greenwich Village for ice cream, Daddy Roger?"
Roger would much rather've had a nice cocktail and gone back to the hotel for the surprise in the bedroom which Cliff had promised to him earlier. 'But WHO, in the name of God, could look into Billy's eyes and refuse him ANYTHING?' Roger thought to himself. "Of course we can go to the Village! Where's the ice cream place, Hunter?"
"I'll show you once we get there."
"Then, let's all pile into the limo and get the hell out of Dodge!" Roger said, with gusto.
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Soon Hunter had shown them 'Biff and Happy's Parlor'. The owners were two gay guys, neither of which were named Biff OR Happy. Both had appeared in a stock production of 'Death of a Salesman' and they thought their character's names were catchy enough to block the image of Ben and Jerry's out of the publics mind. They were right. 'Biff and Happy's' was a big hit in Greenwich Village.
The group found a large table for six and when the waiter came to take the order, Billy was the first to speak, "I'll have a banana split!".
"Me took," said Marc.
"Make that THREE!" Hunter chimed in.
"NO! FOUR!" Lee added.
The waiter looked at Cliff and asked, "FIVE?"
"No, thanks, I'll have a single scoop of vanilla."
"SPOIL SPORT!" Roger said to Cliff. "'I'll' make it FIVE, by GOD!"
"Let's see, that's FIVE banana splits and one single scoop of vanilla?" The waiter repeated the order and left the table. He had walked about six steps when Roger stopped him verbally.
"HEY! SON?"
"Yes sir?" the waiter turned to look at Roger.
"Is there such a thing as a DOUBLE banana split?"
"Yes, sir. We use TWO banana, six scoops of ice cream, and then we pile it high with..."
"That's JUST what I wanted to hear!" Roger announced. "Make that FIVE DOUBLE banana splits and bring the padre just what he ordered, 'an old maid's single scoop of vanilla'!"
The waiter laughed and turned back around to turn in his order at the window.
"OLD MAID?" Cliff joked, poking Roger's arm with his elbow. "If you're going to think of me as an old maid, I suppose I'd better sleep by myself tonight on a throwaway cot."
"Just try to sleep somewhere without me, and I'll be happy to devirginize you again."
The four boys laughed at the way Roger and Cliff were kidding each other like adolescents.
Hunter looked into Lee's eyes, who was sitting next to him, and suddenly kissed Lee on the lips.
Lee was MORE than surprised. "Hey, we're in a public place."
"I know, but Biff and Jerry's is a gay ice cream parlor. Straight people seldom come in here and those that do are at least, gay friendly!"
Billy, suddenly looked at Marc and kissed him as Hunter had kissed Lee.
"What did you do that for?" Marc asked.
"Well, if THEY can do it, why can't we?" Billy replied.
Chris and Roger looked at one another and rolled their eyes toward the ceiling. Both said a quiet, "Oops". They both knew that Hunter and Lee were in love, but what about their son, Billy, and Marc?
"Your turn to say something serious..." Roger winked at Cliff.
"Oh, all right!" Cliff said, giving up. "Billy, are...are you and Marc...getting serious toward one another?"
Billy looked at Cliff, then Roger, and THEN, Marc, finally returning his look to Cliff.
"Daddy Cliff, are you asking if Marc and I are in love?"
"Well, I suppose I AM, Billy..."
"Then, the answer is 'yes'!"
Under his breath, Roger said, quietly to Cliff, "I told you so..." Then Roger added, "It would appear that our little man is setting himself up for another heartbreak!"
"Let me handle it, Rog." Cliff said, in an almost whisper. "Billy, do you think it's wise for you and Marc to get so close so soon? I mean, you go to school at Briarwood High and Marc's going to be on Broadway. You'll hardly ever see one another!"
"Except on weekends, Daddy Cliff!" Billy retorted. "Marc and I have that ALL worked out. I can fly to New York after I get out of school Friday afternoons. I can watch him do the matinee and evening show on Saturday...and then, we'll have ALL Saturday night and all day Sunday to spend together until I have to fly back to Briarwood, late Sunday evening."
Cliff looked at Roger for help while Roger kept staring at the ceiling.
"And WHO is going to pay for all those airline tickets, taxi rides, meals, and ice cream or whatever?"
"Why, Daddy Roger, of course!"
Billy's answer caused Roger to begin coughing.
"Why would your Daddy Roger pay for such a wild scheme?
"Well, Daddy Cliff, I'm not telling tales out of school, but EVERYONE knows that Daddy Roger gave all the Briarwood Boys millions of dollars and since I'm the only Briarwood Boy who's also Daddy Roger's son...I didn't think he'd mind paying for my weekend jaunts to New York to be with Marc. That doesn't even come close to a million dollars."
"I..uh, think Billy's got you in checkmate, babe!" Roger said to Cliff.
"You know, Rog, from time to time, I've wondered what life would be like if you WEREN'T rich and we had to depend on food stamps to supply his with groceries!" Cliff said.
"Nothing would change between us, Cliff. I'd still have you and you'd have me and I'd give up every dime I have to be with you the rest of my life. We could live on your salary from St. Genesius."
"I don't have a salary at St. Genesius. You know that whatever I WOULD make would go into the charity fund at the church OR the Institute."
"So, my own little priest is as poor as a church mouse...?"
"If all I had was cheese and crackers, I wouldn't mind, Roger, as long as we're together."
"OK! FOLKS!" The waiter said, hoisting a huge tray over his head. "FIVE DOUBLE banana splits and a single scoop of vanilla!"
They all were served the ice cream and the four boys and Roger ate EVERY bit of their banana splits. To maintain some form of table manners, Cliff only ate half of his one scoop of vanilla.
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As Will and Forrest headed toward home, the trunk of Will's car AND the back seat were piled high with boxes and bags displaying the Lord and Taylor logo. Inside were shirts, slacks, suits, underwear, sweaters, shoes, socks, belts, ties...EVERYTHING imaginable to complete an entirely new wardrobe for Forrest. When they first began shopping, Forrest, being humble, picked out a couple of pullover shirts with matching slacks while Will kept finding new clothes items he wanted Forrest to try on. Forrest was the kind of handsome guy with a muscular military build which made everything look good on him. Will kept telling the salesman, "We'll take that...and that...two of those...one each of those in every color...". Forrest was dismayed at first by Will's generosity that soon, Forrest just plainly 'gave up' trying to refuse Will and Forrest went along for the ride by choosing things which HE liked but never could or would afford to buy for himself. It took the two of them, the salesman, and two stock boys to carry out the merchandise to place it into Will's car.
"Man, you're worse than any woman!" Forrest said, after the two were alone in the car.
"What do you mean?" Will asked.
"I've seen in movies and on TV when a husband complains to his wife that she 'bought out the store'! But I think you DID buy out Lord and Taylor!"
"We still have time to do more shopping at Saks!" Will joked.
"Like hell we do."
Will insisted that Forrest wear the final outfit which Forrest tried on before he met Will's mother face-to-face. Forrest was wearing a pair of gray slacks with a forest green silk shirt, matching green socks, and Gucci loafers.
"You look great in that shirt!" Will said. "It emphasizes your green eyes."
"Thanks, I think! I...I've never bought anything to match anything in my life. Usually whatever was on sale, I bought it with no regard of color coordination."
"That's all going to change now."
"Somehow, I feel as if I should be wearing a blood red shirt."
"Didn't we buy one?"
"Yes, I'm sure we must have."
"Why blood red?" Will asked.
"So that the real blood won't show too much when your mother shoots me!"
"Why would she shoot you?"
"I was just thinking if Kathy called your mother to tell her what she saw us doing in the kitchen, your mother would be waiting for us at the door with one of your dad's army rifles."
"Ha! She'd shoot me before she ever aimed at you."
"That's comforting to hear. Maybe by the time it takes her to reload after shooting you, I'll have a chance to run!"
"You are TOO much! I'm glad you are because it gives me more of you to love."
"Will, are you sure about all this?"
"All of this what?"
"You and me..."
"Me, being in love with you?"
"Yes..."
"Absolutely! I'm totally, honestly, one-hundred percent in love with you!" Will said, giving Forrest a huge grin. "Don't tell me that you're having second thoughts about your loving me...?"
"Not in the least. It's just that everything happened so quickly. It's as if I've been caught up in a whirlwind ever since I arrived last night."
"Ah! You don't believe in love at first sight?"
"Well, actually, on my part, it wasn't love at first sight. As I told you, I started getting the hots for you in Iraq...so I think, realistically, I was already in love with you in my fantasies."
"Forrest, let me assure you, that it WAS love at first sight on my part. I felt it the minute you walked into the airport rotunda. Granted, during the first couple of minutes, I had a feeling of déja vu that it was Rick whom I saw. Then, when we hugged...the very moment that I felt my arms around you, I knew it wasn't Rick. It was YOU. Little did either of us know that we would have such mad sex later that night...but after our first orgasm together, that's all it took to convince me that you were the one I wanted in my life."
"God, Will. I just hope and pray that your mother accepts me AND your being gay."
"Will you stop worrying about my mother? She's gonna love you...NOT the way I do, but...oh, hell, just wait and see!"
"You...you wouldn't happen to have one of your anti-anxiety pills in your pocket, would you?"
"Yes, but I don't need one!"
"Not for you, idiot! FOR ME! At the moment, I can't decide if I'm going to faint, piss my pants, shit in these new trousers, or ALL THREE!"
Will's car turned into the long driveway of the Danforth Estate.
"Look, there's Mother's car. She's home!"
"Oh, shit! I think I'll just pee right now and get it over with!"
Will stopped his car in front of the house. "RELAX! WILL YA?"
"Wanna feel my heart pounding through this silk shirt or do you wanna take my pulse. I think I'm going into cardiac arrest!"
"Here, I'll settle your nerves!" Will said, as he leaned toward Forrest and kissed him long and hard on Forrest's mouth. "There! Feel better?"
"No, because my dick is going to punch a hole in these pants. It's throbbing worse than my heart!"
"Once we get to our bedroom, I'll take care of that too."
"Yeah, but in the meanwhile, I hope your mother takes my hand and not my dick! My dick is pushing forward more than either of my hands."
"Well, I'm sure she knows the difference. My dad was a military man with a military sexual appetite. I'm sure there's not anything my dad didn't do to my mother that Kinsey wrote about in his book." Will patted Forrest on the thigh. "Come on, let's go meet her. We can unload the car before dinner."
"OR we can leave these packages in the car until you take me to the airport to fly home in a few minutes!"
"COME ON...LOVER!"
Will got out of the car, slowly followed by Forrest. There were only seven steps leading up to the front porch veranda. Forrest felt that there were actually thirteen steps leading up to the noose awaiting him.
Will opened the front door and yelled, "Hey, MOTHER! We're home!"
Valerie came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron, and wiping her hands on a dish towel. She crossed through the dining room, the living room, and then to the foyer where Will...and Forrest had just entered.
"Hello, son..." Valerie greeted Will, kissing him on the right cheek.
"Hello, Mother," Will replied and they both turned to look at Forrest, who was looking scared and shy...somewhat unusual for tall, military hunk. "Mother, I want you to meet Forrest. Forrest Kidman."
"Hello, Forrest," Valerie said, putting out her hand for Forrest to take.
"Glad to meet you, Mrs. Danforth."
"I've heard SO much about you!"
"Oh, really, Mother?" Will interjected. "I hardly talked about Forrest at all, last night."
"I didn't say that I'd heard things about Forrest from you, Will..." Valerie replied, smiling.
"Then, why did you say that?"
"Oh, Will, you should know that I have ways of finding out everything..."
There was an awkward silence among them as Will and Forrest waited for the second shoe to drop.
"Uh, Mrs. Danforth, I...I DO apologize, but I...I've had an urge to use the bathroom, if you'll excuse me for a minute."
"Certainly, dear. There's one down the hall on the left."
"Thanks," Forrest said, as he hurried to pee from being so nervous.
Forrest ran halfway down the hall before Valerie stopped him. "Forrest?"
"Yes, ma'am?" Forrest stopped in his tracks without looking back.
"When you come back from the bathroom, please don't call me, 'Mrs. Danforth', again."
"Pardon?" Forrest replied, turning around to face her slowly.
"Why don't you call me, 'Mother Valerie', or 'Mother Danforth'?"
"MA'AM?" Forrest said in total shock.
"Go on and do what you have to do and I'll explain when you return..." Valerie said, smiling sweetly.
Valerie's remarks were just too traumatizing for Forrest to take. Without thinking, Forrest began dribbling pee through his gray trousers. "OH SHIT!" Forrest exclaimed. Valerie, seeing what had happened, put her hand to her mouth to cover her laughter. Will wanted to laugh as well, but he, too, was puzzled by his mother's attitude and comments. Forrest ran quickly inside the bathroom.
Will stood there with his mouth agape, still disbelieving what he had seen and heard.
"Close your mouth, Will. I've taught you ever since you were small, NOT to let hot air interrupt the flow of the air-conditioning! You'll heat up the entire house if you're not careful!"
Will's mouth was so dry he could cough up fur balls. When he was able to gather enough saliva in his mouth, he spoke. "Mother, what the hell is going on?"
"Why, Will! You just stole my line. It was I who's suppose to ask YOU that!"
"Mother? What did you mean by that 'Mother Valerie' or 'Mother Danforth' remark to Forrest?"
"Well, if he's going to be living here with us, there's no reason to use such formality."
"Who said he was going to be living with us? Mother! Whom has said what to you?"
"Darling, before you got home, I called Walter Clayton to see if you were still there."
"What did Walter say to you? I mean, he's an attorney and everything said to him is supposed to be kept secret by client/lawyer confidentiality! What did Walter tell you?"
"Nothing, except that you and Forrest had already left his office."
"And that's ALL he said?"
"Hmmm. Let me think...Walter asked me how I was feeling and uh, IF he was going to see me at St. Genesius next Sunday? I think that's about the extent of our conversation."
"THAT WAS IT?"
"Yes, Will, I believe so."
"Then, what has that to do with the 'Mother Valerie' business?"
"Nothing."
"Then, WHAT! Whom else did you talk with?"
"Oh, Will, Will, Will! Will you relax? You're not stupid! You're MY son and your Dad's son. Did you think Kathy wouldn't call me after you and Forrest put her in a state of having a nervous breakdown?"
"Kathy called you?"
"I said that she did..."
"Then you know..."
"I heard Kathy's interpretation of what she saw..."
"AND...?"
"And I think Forrest will make a fine son-in-law, if you love him!"
"Jesus H. Christ! You can accept things...JUST LIKE THAT! NO FIGHTING? NO QUARREL? NO TEARS?"
"Will, you don't know me as well as you OR I think you do."
"But...?"
"I have never liked Kathy. The thought of my only son marrying her has been lodged in my gullet ever since you proposed to her. I won't lie. I had Dr. Middleton, before he went away to Europe, to increase my Digoxin in order to tolerate Kathy...IF I had to live in the same house with her...Her 'Mother Danforth' THIS and 'Mother Danforth' THAT nearly drove me to suicide or filicide-in-law."
"Then, why in hell, didn't you say something?"
"Kathy was your choice and I was not about to ruin your happiness."
"What if I'm gay?"
"If that's what makes you happy...and if Forrest makes you happy being gay, then I'm all for it. I've never known two finer people in my life than Father Cliff and Roger Cole. If you're half as happy as they, then you'll have a wonderful life."
"Mother, I can't believe what I'm hearing?"
"Want to hear some more to rock your socks?"
"Oh, God, now what?"
"I KNEW why you were spending the night with Father Chris. I almost called Kathy to go over to Father Chris and walk in on the two of you, but I couldn't find a reason for her to enter Father Chris' unannounced."
"You KNEW about Chris and me?"
"Will, I'm no fool. I've lived longer and I'm much smarter than you give me credit for being. Besides, I sorta liked the idea of having a priest in the family."
"Mother, I feel as if I hardly know you..."
"Then you can join Forrest as he gets to know me. Both of you can find out many things about me at the same time."
"Then, you're not ashamed of me and Forrest?"
"WILL! Your father was a military officer with his own orderly who used to accompany him where ever he went. He used to change orderlies about every six months..."
"Meaning...?"
"I knew ALL about your father's attraction to young orderlies. I knew what they were doing when they checked into various hotels and places the Army sent him."
"You mean Dad was gay?"
"NO! But he DID like to have sex with young men."
"Did Dad know that you knew?"
"Of course! I even gave him permission to sleep with them. I knew that your father would never leave me for another man. Had he had a penchant for young women, I'd have stopped that before it happened the first time. Military men are under a lot of stress. Orgasms can relieve a lot of it. IF two men happen to be together and want to get rid of their tension at the same time, what's wrong with it? Back when your dad was having his sexual flings, HIV or AIDS hadn't been heard of. I knew your dad would be careful about ordinary STD's, so I never worried about him infecting me with anything."
"You weren't at all, jealous?"
"Heavens, no! Your dad used to have me in so many ways when he returned home on leave, I, actually looked forward to getting a rest. Will, your dad was MORE than sexually active with me!"
"Well, I'll be goddamned! I kept wondering where I got my gay genes."
"Now you know!"
Forrest flushed the toilet, grabbed a towel and tried to dry the wet spot on the front of his trousers. He came back to Will and Valerie, covering his crotch with a white hand towel.
"I..I, sorta had an accident. I...guess I had to go quicker than I thought!" Forrest said, dropping his head in embarrassment.
"Forrest?" Will said.
"Meet your new mother!"
"What? I...I don't understand..." Forrest replied.
"Maybe this will help you understand," Valerie said, walking toward Forrest, embracing him, and kissing him on the cheek as she had on own son. "Welcome to the family, Forrest! I...uh, changed my mind about one thing."
"What's that, ma'am?"
"Call me Valerie or Mother Valerie, but for God's sake, DON'T EVER call me 'Mother Danforth. That reminds me, dreadfully, of someone else!"
"You'd better do as she says," Will added.
"Can someone PLEASE fill me in on what happened while I was in the bathroom?" Forrest asked, perplexed.
"Forrest, you DO peel potatoes, don't you?" Valerie asked.
"Yes. I was on KP lots of times."
"Then come into the kitchen and peel us about a dozen red potatoes while Will and I tell you everything!" Valerie exclaimed as she left Will and Forrest to go back into the kitchen.
Forrest was still dumbfounded. "Is this for real?"
"For now and always, baby!" Will replied, putting his arm around Forrest's waist to lead him into the kitchen.
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Cliff, Roger, Hunter, Will, Billy, and Marc were all seated in Rob and Tim's living room reliving 'Heelz and Soulz' from the overture to the curtain calls. The show's content was very similar to two other shows, "Bootmen" and "Stomp"..all three featuring an all male cast, working in old torn blue jeans with the right amount of skin showing through the holes and super bulges filling out the crotch areas. The music was abstract jazz with lots of drums, wailing trumpets, and low-moaning saxophones. The dances featured many contrasts of tap, jazz, and contemporary ballet. Tall sexy, muscular men dances with more of the same made the show extremely erotic. Those male audience members, fortunate enough to get seats for the show, were constantly readjusting themselves in their seats. Be they straight or gay, most men found themselves in a fixed state of penile erectus instigotis...perhaps and alternative to Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. Everyone who was in such a condition were too embarrassed to get up to go to the restroom during intermission. Those that were brave enough to hide their erections, more than likely, relieved themselves in the men's room.
Even though, all eight in Tim's living room had experienced the erectile phenomena, while seeing the show, none of them mentioned it during the conversation.
"Rob, Tim, I'm sorry you weren't able to go with us because you missed one hell of a performance after 'Heelz and Soulz' was over," Roger said, proudly.
"Do you mean they added another encore?" Tim asked.
"No, no. I was referring to the number we were honored to experience in the lobby of the theater."
"Sorry, Roger, I'm not following you..." Tim added.
"Young Mister Morgan went all the way to the top of the staircase and danced his way down just like Fred Astaire might've."
"You're a trained dancer?" Tim asked Hunter.
"Practically all my life. I think I came out of my mother's womb with taps on," Hunter replied.
"Just tap or do you do other kinds of dance?"
"Jazz, tap, modern, ballet...you name it!"
"AND the boy is fantastic!" Roger said. "And I have four witnesses to back me up."
"Hunter's great, Uncle Tim!" Billy said.
"I see. What did you think of Hunter's dancing, Marc?" Tim asked.
"He's better than anyone I've seen on Broadway!" Marc replied.
"I'm afraid that that creates a problem for me, Hunter..." Tim said.
"Sir?"
"I...uh...I was going to offer you the role of Sammy..."
"You're kidding!" Hunter exclaimed.
"...BUT if you can dance as well as everyone here says, I might just have to enlarge the role of Punky and offer that to you."
"I can't believe this!" Hunter said. "I mean, you're offering me ONE of two parts in your show...JUST LIKE THAT!"
"Let me ask you, Hunter, since you're so familiar with 'Dark', which role would you prefer?"
"If Punky gets to dance and sing while Sammy only gets to sing, I'd rather play the part of Punky!"
"If you're that good, I might even give you two songs to sing. Everyone takes free license when converting a straight play into a musical. Characters are added, scenes, rearranged, ALL kind of changes are made."
"My God! This is just too much!" Hunter said.
"I'm glad you made the wise decision...BOTH of you, Hunter AND Tim!" Roger said.
"So, it looks like we're going to be spending a lot of time together, Marc!" Hunter said.
"And ME, TOO!" Billy added.
Tim gave Billy, Roger, and Cliff a puzzled look.
"Billy means it, Tim. You'd better get used to having a guest from Briarwood every weekend after the show opens."
"I...I think I know what you're getting at, Roger."
"Let ME explain it to you, Uncle Tim," Billy said. "Marc and I are boyfriends! We can't see each other during the week, but we plan to spend all our weekends together!"
Tim gave Rob a surprised look as if to ask, 'Did you know about this'?
"Don't look at me!" Rob said. "I just live here because I'm your roommate. I don't know nothin' about nothin'!"
"In that case, Rob and I will be happy to have you as Marc's guest every weekend," Tim said.
"Now," Roger continued. "I'd like to know if Marc is free for this coming weekend?"
"I imagine so. Rehearsals don't begin until next month," Tim replied.
"Then, would it be all right if Marc accompanied us...AND Billy to go to Mackintosh to visit with the boys up there?"
Tim looked at Rob. "Do you see any reason why not?"
"Can't think of a one!" Rob replied.
"That settles it, I suppose. Marc can go!"
"WHOOPEE! HOORAY!" Billy and Marc screamed.
"Marc and Billy will get the chance to see their very first commitment ceremony performed by Jeff...only Jeff doesn't know about it yet."
"Who's getting united, Roger?"
"These two on the couch!"
"Hunter and Lee?" Tim shouted. "That's WONDERFUL!"
"Congratulations, guys!" Rob added.
"Are you sure that you two can't change your plans and come with us?" Roger said to Tim.
"How about it, Rubin?" Tim asked Rob.
"It would be nice to get away from New York for the weekend. We DO have a lot of things to do here, but I think they can wait for such an auspicious occasion as a commitment ceremony of one of your stars!" Rob replied.
"Then, we'll ALL GO!" Tim said.
Cliff had sat quietly taking everything in by himself and finally said, "Tim, if you ever decide to transform 'The Miracle Worker' into a musical, I'd suggest you change the role of Annie to Andy and write it about Roger."
Roger thought for a second and jokingly said, "Could THAT be done?"
"It could if YOU produced it, lover!" Cliff answered.
"WOWEE! What a jolly weekend we're going to have!" Roger announced. "Cliff call Jeff in the morning and tell him we're bringing a fresh supply of Briarwood Boys to invade his hamlet."
"Jeff, Johnny, Alex, and Ted are going to be thrilled to see all of us!" Cliff said.
"Well, now! Let's choose up sides and see who is sleeping with whom and make our way to our designated bedrooms!" Roger said, standing up. "Billy, are you and Marc spending the night here or at the Waldorf?"
"Here, Daddy Roger."
"Very good, just mind your manners. We can drop Hunter and Will off at Hunter's and YOU and I, Padre, can have the entire suite at the Waldorf to ourselves!"
"Uh oh, Father Cliff," Rob said. "It would appear that you're in for a hard night."
"Oh no, Rob! Cliff said he was going to surprise me after we got back to the hotel. It might be 'I' whose in for a hard night!"
"Either way, it's so inspiring to see how you love each other after all these years!" Rob added.
Everyone said their goodbyes and made plans to call one another the next day to finalize the plans for the trip to New Hampshire. The limo driver dropped Hunter and Lee off at their place and then took Roger and Cliff back to the Waldorf. It was a perfect way to end a perfect night.
Marc and Billy went into Marc's bedroom and closed the door.
"When do you think we should discuss Marc's adoption with him?" Tim asked Rob. "BEFORE or after the trip to Mackintosh?"
"Before. I'm hoping he'll be just as excited as we are!" Rob answered.
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When Roger and Cliff got to their suite, the phone was ringing. Roger told Cliff to go into the bedroom to prepare his 'surprise' while he answered the telephone.
"It's probably Billy saying he forgot his toothbrush or something!" Roger said, picking up the phone. "Hello?"
"Mr. Cole?"
"Yes?"
"This is Doctor Williams from the lab at the Institute."
"Well, hello, Dr. Williams. It's so good to hear from you. Is anything wrong?"
"I'm afraid so, sir," Dr. Williams said. "I have some rather unsettling news."
"What is it?"
"The blood samples John took in New York and brought back here to the Institute to be analyzed..."
"Yes, what about them, Dr. Williams?"
"Is the patient a friend or relative of yours, Mr. Cole?"
"He's a very dear young friend. Why?"
"John told me to run both HIV AND AIDS tests on the samples to help identify the strain."
"And were you able to identify it this soon?"
"Yes, only Mr. Cole, your friend MIGHT have been infected with the HIV virus at one time, but his white cell count or elevation of his t-cells, show that he has been misdiagnosed! He doesn't have either HIV OR AIDS!"
"Well then, were you able to pinpoint his actual diagnosis?" Roger asked, a bit reticently.
"Yes sir. We ran the tests three times for accurate confirmation. Each time we got the same result with a higher than normal number of lymphocytes."
"Meaning...?"
"Your friend has advanced 'CLL'."
"Oh my God!" Roger exclaimed, causing Cliff to come from the bedroom to hear Roger's conversation on the phone better.
"You're positive?"
"Very much so, Mr. Cole...I'm terribly sorry."
"And we have no treatment to combat it at the Institute?"
"None that has been successful or life-saving. I understand that St. Jude's in Memphis has been doing research on 'CLL', but no signs of a cure..."
"Dr. Williams, when I get back to Briarwood, we'll instigate a new research team to see what we can do about 'CLL'.
"Thank you, Mr. Cole. I'm very sorry to disturb you on your trip, but John told me how important these test results were to you."
"No, I'm very glad you called. Thank you and good night, Dr. Williams."
"Good night, sir."
Cliff knew that serious look on Roger's face all too well and was almost afraid to ask about the telephone call. Cliff went to Roger and put a hand on his shoulder. Cliff, quietly, asked. "Bad news?"
"I'm afraid so, babe."
"What's wrong, Roger?"
"It looks as if Hunter's dream has turned into a nightmare for him...and for Lee. Cliff, I'm gonna need your help to tell him. I might be filled with bright ideas, but when it comes to words, you're the best, Cliff...positively, the best!"
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(Book Nine of "Briarwood" to be concluded in Chapter 104, 'A New Heaven And A New Earth.)