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, 2005
aka "Whence Cometh My Help"
Copyright Ritchris, 2003
Revised Version
A dramatic saga
by
Ritch Christopher
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BOOK SEVEN
"I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES"
Chapter-Seventy
<><><><><><><><><> "Why this feeling? Why this glow? Why the thrill when you say, 'Hello'? . . . . . . Why this trembling when you speak? Why this joy when you touch my cheek? . . . . . . It's a strange and tender magic you do. Mr. Wonderful, that's you."
Random lyrics from "Mr. Wonderful"
From the Broadway show "Mr. Wonderful"
Music by Jerry Bock and George Weiss
Lyrics by Larry Holofcener and George Weiss
Copyright 1956.
While Jeff and Johnny were in Briarwood, arranging for the adoptions, Alex received a shipment of new computers at the Center in Mackintosh. Alex really couldn't see much difference in Pentium III and Pentium IV. However, Pentium IV was newer and allowed one to open more windows at one time, but it was slower than Pentium III. This sounded more like bullshit to Alex because, to him, it seemed just another way to make Bill Gates richer. How much money could a person have to want when he had too much already?
Switching to the newer system meant that all the files and records that had been recorded of the Mackintosh residents on the older system would now have to be meticulously transferred to Pentium IV if the change was made. This could take weeks, maybe even months to accomplish. Alex wished he could ask for help from some of the computer-literate residents, but that would mean confidentiality would be at risk. In filling out the histories of the older and newer residents, Johnny had been as thorough as possible, including names of lovers, tricks, if possible, and every disease and condition that had been suffered.
A sudden, but welcome, interruption--'Mayor Ted', as everyone called him, stopped by the center to see if he could be helpful to his lover.
"So how does it feel to know that you're finally going to be a real uncle?" Ted asked.
"They'll be your nephews, the same as mine," Alex replied. "I can't wait to see them!" A delighted grin lit his face.
"Can I ask something?"
"When have I ever stopped you from asking me anything?"
"Well, it borders on a touchy subject," Ted warned.
"Ted, when will you get used to the fact that we're a single entity? We have been for over ten years. Just come out and ask."
"Are you...are you the slightest bit envious of Jeff and Johnny?"
"You mean about the kids?"
"Yes."
"You mean do I wish they were ours?"
"Uh huh."
"Before I answer, tell me, how do you feel? Do YOU wish they were ours?"
"Huh uh!" Ted said, "I asked you first."
"Ted, you know I've never been envious of Jeff...never! I'm so happy for him and Johnny, but I will say this--if Roger got two more kids who needed homes, I'd be the first in line, provided you'd want them too."
"I was hoping that that would be your answer. I'd love for us to have a son or two or three."
"Would you want infants?"
"Not necessarily, but I'd want them to be young enough to grow up knowing that we were their parents."
"Would you take a kid who was HIV positive or one who had AIDS?"
"I thought about that," Ted replied. "But I remembered something my dad used to say to me whenever I asked if I could have a puppy. You remember he was dead-set against my having a pet? He'd always say that a pet is a heartbreak waiting to happen. He'd say that a dog's lifespan is just over ten years and then it would die or have to be put down and it was just too much tragedy to wish on a child."
"It's funny, my dad never said that to me, but just the same, Jeff and I never had a pet. Oh, we had a big aquarium in the den, as you well remember, and every morning Dad would go in to look at the fish before Jeff and I arose, and if one of the fish had died during the night, Dad would skim it out and flush it down the toilet before Jeff and I could see the dead fish. Jeff and I knew his secret for years, but neither of us ever let on that we were on to Dad's actions. Jeff and I would pretend that all the fish were there and we never asked about the missing angel fish or tetra because Dad would always slip in and replace it when he came home from work via the pet fish store."
"I was thinking about what he said about losing a dog and I keep telling myself that babies are human beings, not pets. People live longer."
"Yes, babe, but you have to take into consideration that a baby with HIV or AIDS stands the chance of living even less time than an animal."
"I know, I've thought about that too," Ted said. "I don't know if I could stand by and watch a kid get sicker and sicker until we lost him."
"Lucky for Jeff and Johnny, they won't have to endure that. Their boys are totally healthy, according to Roger."
"Little Cliff and Little Roger, huh?"
"I could've told you that that's what Jeff would name them before the adoption was finalized."
"Did they tell Cliff about the names yet?"
"This morning when Johnny called to ask about the new computers, he said that he and Jeff didn't know whether to tell Cliff outright, or wait until the christening and ask you and me, the godfathers, what name should the kids be baptized with...and you and I would announce it in the church and that would be an extra surprise for Cliff."
"They want his heart to burst with happiness, don't they? Cliff would be so choked up, he'd have to drink from the baptismal font."
"Knowing my dear little brother as we both do, you know how hard it is for Jeff to keep a family secret. I wish he WOULD wait just to surprise Cliff, but we'll just have to wait and see."
"Are there any new people requesting residence in Mackintosh?" Ted asked, changing the subject.
"Are you kidding? Remember when you and I went to Vegas that weekend and the old cabbie showed us that only a few years ago, Las Vegas was only one strip of casinos and hotels and how all of the back of them faced an open desert, and now there were houses, schools, more hotels reaching out in all four directions? Well, Mr. Mayor, I'd say we're outdoing Vegas because our little metropolis is growing faster than any city in the country."
"What do you think the reason is? The AIDS population getting larger?"
"Yes, plus the fact that the residents who were living here when Jeff, Johnny, and us arrived are now seeking treatment and there's no longer fifty some-odd deaths per month."
"I guess we owe a lot to Mike and what Ed did for him at Cole. Did I tell you I've organized a weightlifting group? A couple of years and a dozen or so will be ready to enter competition."
"Wouldn't that be amazing to see a former AIDS patient winning the Mr. Olympia contest?"
"Very frankly, no!" Ted said. "It's not beyond the realm of possibility."
Alex walked toward Ted, faced him, put his arms around Ted's shoulders, and looked him straight in the eyes.
"What's this for?" Ted asked.
"I just wanted to get a closer look at you. So often, we get so busy here that we sorta take each other for granted. I just wanted to take time out and tell you that I love you."
"I love you, too, babe."
They kissed, long and passionately. When the kiss broke, Alex kept his face about three inches from Ted's.
"Ted, do you have any regrets about moving from L.A. and giving up your world of sports?"
"Not really, after my accident and my brush with death, not to mention how I thought I'd be paralyzed the rest of my life. Sure, I miss being at the live games and events, but after I witnessed them and put my report on paper and handed it in to the paper, the excitement of the game was over and I had to go to the next event. The memories were only momentary, but here, I see what the four of us are doing. The golf tournaments, the baseball and softball games, the basketball round-robin tourneys, and soon the weightlifting class, I see our accomplishments every day and see the residents getting well and looking healthier and these are memories I'll treasure the rest of my life."
"God, that makes me feel better when you say things like that."
"Alex, you've known me all my life, since we were kids, and you know that I grew up being self-centered, caring more about myself than anyone...including you. I lived and breathed professional sports. When I was fifteen or sixteen, it was my goal to be able to walk into any baseball, football, or basketball locker room and call all the big stars by their first name...and I wanted them to say, 'Hey, Ted, how's it going?'. But when I reached that level in my career, I suddenly saw that these guys I had looked up to all my life were just plain guys going to work, the same as I. They made the plays and I wrote about them to make them more famous and I soon became bored with what I was doing."
"And you were good at it, too, sweetheart!"
"I know, but here in Mackintosh, I don't have to write about my athletes. When one of them hits a home run or scores a three pointer in the cage, I want to shout! I want to get on the air and tell the world, 'John So-and-so', who was supposed to be dead from the virus, just hit one over the fence. He's not dead and he's not dying! He's alive; he's well and making a statement to everyone who had given up hope on him and for those who need the same hope that John So-and-so has! To me, he just won the World Series or the Super Bowl!"
Alex had tears in his eyes from Ted's declaration. He was proud of his lover and all his accomplishments with the HIV and AIDS community, all the folks who had chosen him to be their mayor.
Ted came back down to earth from his enthusiasm and said, "I'm sorry I got so carried away. I hope I wasn't becoming self-centered again, but I wanted to hear how you felt about our move from the City of Angels to the City of Hope."
"Ted, I told you more than once, even before we moved to L.A. that I would follow you and be happy in Podunk, USA, as long as we were together. But it just so happens that we didn't go to Podunk, USA. We moved here, and I have you, I have my brother, my brother's better half, and soon, my brother's new kids. I have a job that gives my life meaning and, I guess, I'm the happiest person on earth."
"Wanna lay odds on that?" Ted said, smiling. "You think you're happier than me or Jeff or Johnny?"
"I suppose not. We've all been blessed. We've kept our love going...the four of us and we've tried to spread our happiness among our friends and neighbors at Mackintosh."
"Hey, you, uh, wouldn't wanna, you know, lock the door and uh, get romantic on the fold- out sofa in your office?"
"Whaddya have in mind, Mr. Mayor?"
"Well, it's not in my mind. It's in my pants, if you'd like to see."
"Let me feel, first." Alex lowered his hand and felt Ted's erection through his pants. "My God, Mr. Mayor, you're in some kind of physical predicament. You can't leave here and walk down the street in that condition."
"You're the only person that can help me," Ted said, nuzzling Alex's neck and biting his ear.
"God, that still turns me on after the million times you've done that to me."
"Well, whaddya say? Wanna have something special for lunch?"
"You talked me into it!" Alex said, taking Ted by the hand and leading him into his office where he promptly locked the door.
They made love, non-stop, for thirty minutes.
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This was Lee's second visit to see Dr. Gonzalez. His first appointment consisted of filling out the usual "first visit" doctor's forms. Lee falsified his name, address, and phone number also by filling in the line for "Parents" as deceased and no living relatives. He used "Larry Forman" as his alias. Dr. Gonzalez did the common head to anus examination that he normally carried out on new patients and found that "Larry" (Lee) was in perfect health. Then he asked his nurse to draw blood for a "cbc". This disturbed Lee, not because of what the blood test would reveal, but he was more worried about the cost. Lee had borrowed one hundred of Jake's $140.00. The doctor would charge at least thirty dollars for the office visit and exam, but lab tests could cost WAY over his remaining sixty bucks.
Dr. Gonzalez instructed Lee to schedule another visit in two weeks, after he got the test result. Lee thanked him and left, feeling a bit easier that the physical exam had shown nothing to be alarmed about. He told his dad that he needed to go to the Fort Stockton library to prepare notes for his term paper. When his dad asked him what was the subject of the paper, Lee lied again, this time lying to his dad, telling him that he had dropped the idea of writing about Lord Byron and had changed his topic to the miracles of Jesus. This not only satisfied Pastor Malone, but also pleased him that his older son was taking his religious upbringing, seriously. Lee spent his time at the library combing over page after page of venereal diseases and their causes. It has been nearly three weeks since Buddy performed oral sex on him and Lee noticed no sign of blisters or sores on his penis. So maybe Buddy's cause for alarming him had only been a safety precaution.
Jake knew that Lee was lying about the term paper, but he was more concerned about his brother's mysterious actions. Why would Lee need to borrow money to go see a strange doctor? Lee didn't appear to be sick, but he was acting nervous and had refused to experiment again with their newly experimental masturbation sessions. As naive as Lee appeared to Jake during their one and only "fool around" evening, it never occurred to him that Lee had had any kind of sex with anyone else, so the danger of gonorrhea and syphilis was out of the question. What could be so wrong that it would require a visit to the doctor?
Lee was busy looking at an old crumpled National Geographic Magazine when the nurse called, "Mr. Forman?"
Lee didn't look up. He had all but forgotten about his "pseudonym".
"Mr. Forman?" the nursed called again. "LARRY Forman?"
The name finally struck a bell in Lee's mind and he quickly looked at her. "Oh, yes, that's me! Larry Forman! I was busy reading this article about desert rodents that I didn't hear you. I'm sorry."
"That's quite all right. The doctor will see you now."
Lee stood up slowly and walked toward the door leading to the examining room.
"You don't have to remove your clothing," the nurse said. "The doctor wants to see you in his office."
"Oh?"
"Yes. This way, please."
The nurse showed Lee to Dr. Gonzalez's private office with a huge desk and two leather chairs. The walls were decorated with Mexican bric-a-brac and vividly colorful serapes and even a five-foot wide sombrero hanging on one of the walls. Lee sat quietly but anxiously as he awaited the doctor. Ten minutes later, Dr. Gonzalez came into the office.
"Well, Larry, how are you doing?" Dr. Gonzalez asked.
"Fine, doctor."
The doctor sat at his desk and opened a manila folder where he found a large brown envelope. There were several papers stapled together inside the piece of mail.
"Now, let's see," Dr. Gonzalez said. "I only looked at these briefly when they arrived day before yesterday, so let me look them over for a second."
Lee noticed the expressions on the doctor's face change, looking more severe at each new page. This made Lee even more apprehensive and almost scared for the first time.
"Is anything wrong?" Lee asked. "Am I okay?"
"Just a minute," the doctor said, "let me finish with the last page."
The doctor read further, looking more and more concerned.
"Larry," the doctor finally spoke as he placed the papers on his desk. "Have you had intercourse recently?"
This question almost floored Lee. "No, sir," he replied with exasperated innocence.
"Would you mind coming over next to me and removing your trousers?"
Exasperation, complicated by embarrassment and confusion, seemed to overwhelm Lee. "No, sir."
He slowly went to stand beside the doctor, unbuckled his belt, and lowered his pants.
"Come on, boy," Dr. Gonzalez said, "your shorts, too! Don't be shy!"
The doctor had seen Lee naked before but he was wearing a backless hospital gown and was in the examining room on a table. It was somehow different taking off your clothes in front of an almost stranger in his private office. Lee's thoughts were too preoccupied to get sexually aroused, so he had no fear of sprouting an erection. Reluctantly, he lowered his briefs about halfway down his thighs.
"All the way down, boy! I don't have all day."
Lee pushed his briefs down to his ankles. Dr. Gonzalez put on a pair or latex gloves and reached for Lee's penis. He examined the glans, the shaft, and pulled the foreskin back and forth. He next looked carefully at Lee's scrotum and gingerly press each testicle between his fingers. He pried the urethral opening apart as far as it would stretch.
"Thank you, Larry. Now, would you turn around and bend over, please?"
Lee figured the doctor had seen every part of him during the first exam, so he tried to conceal his humiliation as he turned around and lowered his arms to reach the floor. The doctor looked closely between Lee's buttocks at his anus and inserted one finger into his rectum.
"Squeeze my finger, Larry," the doctor said.
"Sir?"
"Try to tighten your anus around my finger."
Lee did the best he could in following the doctor's orders. The doctor reached into the cabinet behind his desk and retrieved some kind of instrument, which Lee couldn't see. It apparently had a light at the end of it. Lee DID tighten up when he felt the cold implement going inside him. The doctor probed for only a few minutes but it seemed like an hour to Lee. Finally, the instrument was removed.
"Thank you, Larry. You can pull up your pants now."
Gratefully, Lee pulled up his briefs and trousers and buckled his belt while the doctor began to re-read the papers.
"Have a seat, please. I'll be through here shortly."
Lee returned to his seat and eagerly waited what the doctor had to say.
"Larry," the doctor said, putting down the papers and looking at Lee rather seriously. "I wanted to examine you once more. I see no sign of your having anal sex."
"No, sir!" Lee said, hurriedly, "I could've told you that! I've never..."
"I had to see for myself, Larry. Lots of times, young people your age don't always tell me the whole truth."
"I don't lie, sir," Lee said, suddenly remembering that he had even lied to the doctor about his name and family. "What's wrong? Did those papers say that I'm sick?"
"One more thing," the doctor said, rising from his desk and reaching for a throat paddle and a tiny flashlight from the pocket of his white doctor's coat. "I want to examine your mouth again. Please open wide."
Dr. Gonzalez pulled down Lee's lower lip, then the upper one. He looked meticulously at Lee's gums, the inside lining of his cheeks, his tongue and throat.
"I need to ask you another personal question and PLEASE don't lie. You can be totally honest with me, because what you say here stays with me. No one will ever know how you answer."
"Okay."
"Have you performed any kind of oral sex on a person, say, in the past couple of months?"
"NO SIR! I've never done anything like that in my life...and that's the honest to God truth!"
"All right, son. I believe you, but this report from the lab has me baffled!"
"What does it say, Dr. Gonzalez?"
"Son, I don't know any other way to tell you this, but you've tested positive for HIV."
Lee was so startled that he felt as if his bowels had collapsed.
"Larry, you told me that you've had no oral sex and no anal sex and I can find nothing physically to show that you're lying. I looked at your arms. Have you had any kind of drugs shot into your arms or anywhere else in your body?"
"No, sir."
"No transfusions? Have you donated blood at the hospital?"
"No, sir. I've never even smoked marijuana. My dad won't let me give blood at the hospital...or at least, he wouldn't when he was alive," Lee quickly corrected himself.
"Then where in God's name did you get it?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Tell me, do you play sports? Have you been around any injured person who was bleeding? Maybe in the locker room at school?"
"No, sir. I don't play any sports. My brother does...I mean, he did, before he...when he was alive."
"Your brother is dead?"
"Yes, sir. He was in the same car with my mom and dad when the train hit them. The warning light was broken and my dad didn't see the train coming when he drove across the tracks."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Larry. That must've been very traumatic for you."
"It was, sir. I guess I'm still not over it!"
"If you don't play sports, do you have any hobbies? What do you do for recreation?"
"I take piano lessons, or at least I did until my piano teacher moved out of town."
The doctor's eyebrows smoothed back on his forehead as the dawn began to break.
"Your piano teacher moved out of town?" the doctor asked, quietly with suspicion. "When?"
"About a month ago."
"His name wouldn't've been 'Buddy', would it?"
"Yes sir! Do you know him?" Lee had slipped up and been caught in a lie. His defense mechanism had been lowered by his admission.
"Tell me, Larry. Were you and Buddy close?"
"Kinda, but not really," Lee lied.
"Did you and Buddy ever get, shall we say, intimate with each other?"
"Maybe, one time, but we really didn't do anything."
"Larry, it's very important that you tell me exactly what you and Buddy did."
"I, we, uh, well..."
"Did you and Buddy have sex?"
"Not really."
"What's 'not really'?"
"He, well, he showed me how to...well, you know..."
"Masturbate?"
"Well, yes."
"Is that all?"
"Almost."
"What else did you do?"
"Gosh, Doctor, this is so embarrassing and hard for me to say."
"You didn't put your penis inside his anus, did you?"
"GOSH, NO!...and he didn't put his inside me, either."
"I could tell that by my examination."
"How?"
"Usually, when someone has anal intercourse, the opening around a man's anus is quite like a women's hymen. The tissue tears away slightly...but yours is intact."
Lee had no idea what a hymen was and he was more grateful than ever that his and Buddy's episode had not gone that far.
"Larry, did you put Buddy's penis inside your mouth?"
"No, sir, I swear!"
"But he DID put yours inside his mouth, didn't he?"
"Only for a second or two when I was, you know..."
"Climaxing?"
"Yes sir."
"Is that the only time? Have you done that with anyone else?"
Lee quickly replayed his one experience with Jake, but didn't want to reveal that to the doctor. After all, all that he and Jake had done was touch one another with their hands.
"Did Buddy mention to you that he was sick?"
"Yes sir. He told me he was going to Dallas for an operation."
"You didn't ask what kind of operation?"
"No, sir. But he was worried. He told me to make an appointment with you and get examined."
"And that's why you came to see me?"
"Yes."
"I'm afraid Buddy was a lot sicker than he told you. Larry, I'm afraid it was Buddy who infected you."
"Just by cumming in his mouth?" Lee was embarrassed that he had expressed himself so blatantly. "Doctor, I went to the library and read up on all kinds of diseases including HIV and AIDS, and there was nothing in those books that said a person could get HIV from oral sex."
"That's what many physicians want you to believe. In many cases, and they are rare, a person...male or female can contract the virus from the saliva of someone who's infected. Your glans, or rather the meaty part at the end of your penis is quite spongy. It can absorb fluids just like any other sponge, and strangely enough, you can get the virus just by putting your organ in an HIV victim's orifice...oral or anal."
"Then, if I've got it, what do I do? I die, don't I?" Lee was on the verge of tears for the first time.
"No, no, no, son, no one dies from HIV any longer. It's only when the HIV virus works so hard on your immune system without and drugs or diet to combat it."
"Can you help me, Doctor?"
"I could try, but my expertise is very limited. I've had very few patients with the HIV positive diagnosis and it's my advice that you go to someone who has far vaster knowledge and experience than I."
"Who, then?"
"I can recommend that you do as Buddy did. One of the best treatment centers in Texas is in Dallas."
"Doctor, my funds are very limited and very frankly, I have no insurance."
"I suggest that you try to qualify for Medicaid and let the state pay for your hospitalization. I'll be happy to help you out, filling in the forms and showing the state agency how urgent it is for you to begin chemotherapy as soon as possible."
"I'd need a place to stay. I know no one in Dallas."
"What about Buddy? I'm sure he has found a place to stay. Maybe you can stay with him or he probably knows someone who can help you."
"What do I do in the meantime?"
"Stay healthy. Eat a healthy diet. Get some exercise. Do all you can to keep from catching a cold. Try to avoid anyone that you know who is sick and might give you whatever they are suffering from. Take lots of vitamins."
Lee's head was spinning with all of Dr. Gonzalez's suggestions. He would have to move, but first, he would have to think up the biggest lie possible to tell his dad and Jake. Lee and Jake both had been raised to believe in heaven and hell and for the first and only time in his life, the only solution he could come up with was thoughts of suicide, but then his soul would be damned to hell for such an act. Suicide almost seemed like a better option than having his dad kill him. Reverend Malone would surely find a way to rid the world from the abomination in his own household.
"Son, I'm sorry," the doctor said, "but I'm afraid your condition is out of my hands."
"Then there's no reason to see you again, is there?"
"As I said, I'll be happy to help you get Medicaid and I can monitor your condition for a while to see if you are getting worse or if your cell count is remaining steadfast. Let me give you a number to call and ask for Carrie Lou Hemphill at the Medicaid office and tell her I suggested that you contact her."
Dr. Gonzalez quickly scrawled a name and phone number on his prescription pad, ripped off the top sheet of paper and handed it to Lee. Lee took it and put out his hand to shake the doctor's, thanked him, and rushed out of the office into the blazing sun scorching the sidewalk and the street.
Lee wanted to run as far and as fast as his legs would take him. It didn't matter where, just so long as he didn't have to confront his dad with his news of doom. Dallas seemed so far away to a scared kid with no money, well--he had a little over fifty dollars in his pocket. This was surely enough to buy a bus ticket to Dallas...but then what? Lee couldn't run away without telling Jake first. He loved his brother and hated to leave him alone to face their dad's daily wrath. However, Lee might soon die and Jake would be left with his dad anyway. At the present moment, suicide DID seem like his best option.
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Doug, nervously, awaited the arrival of Charles, the man who had been his brother-in-law until Doug lost his wife. Now what would their relationship be? As he sat at the airport, he suddenly remembered feeling like this years ago, a fifteen-year-old kid, sitting on a sofa with a corsage in his lap, waiting for his first date to descend the staircase to go with him to the prom.
Charles' flight was scheduled to arrive at 10:30 PM. Doug had spent the entire day, vacuuming, dusting, washing towels and linens, and generally straightening the house to look as it did when Louise, his late wife, was alive. Charles ate a light supper, avoiding anything that might cause gas or indigestion. He showered at 6:00 PM, donned new underwear and then decided his body wasn't clean enough. Would he 'offend'? So back to the bathroom he went and drew a tub of hot water. This time he sprinkled a few drops of Louise's pearl drops to add a bit of fragrance to his skin. After drying himself, he swabbed a couple of streaks of deodorant under each arm.
When he had finished shaving, he rubbed his face with a lightly scented balm. Later, when he had had changed clothes five or six times to find just the "right" look for himself, he picked up a bottle of Calvin Klein's "Eternity" which Louise had given to him at Christmastime, two years ago, and sprayed his neck and the collar of his shirt. When one wears fragrances, it's usually the person whom he meets that can tell how much is too much. But at least, with the bath oil, the deodorant, the balm, and the cologne, Doug had no fear concerning his natural body odor.
To ease his mind that he wouldn't miss Charles' flight, Doug made sure he arrived at the airport at 8:30PM, a full two hours early. He was uneasy about the possible lateness of the scheduled flight.
"Ten-thirty is awfully late," Doug thought. "By the time we get Charles' luggage, it'll be almost eleven-thirty and time to go to bed. But that wouldn't seem the right thing to do, would it? Go home after a few words of conversation and hop into bed together? With no lead up? No 'getting to know one another better' in person?"
If he offered the guest room to Charles, would that offend his guest and appear as if he were rejecting the planned evening of sex or whatever? Why the hell didn't Charles come at 10:30 AM instead of 'PM'? They could have had the whole day to get acquainted.
Yes, Doug was upset all right. To pass the time waiting, Doug went into the knick-knack shop at the airport. He strolled through the souvenirs and novelties. He looked at the paperback novels on the revolving stand. Doug was an author. He made a good living writing fiction books, but he was amazed at the printed prices on the paperback covers. Eleven dollars and ninety-five cents for a paperback? My God, when he was a kid, paperbacks were only a quarter except the thicker ones such as "Battle Cry" or "Exodus". They were thirty-five cents, sometimes fifty cents, but never as much as a dollar. And now? Companies were asking nearly twelve dollars for a little over a two hundred-page novel? Doug vowed right then and there that he would ask his agent for an increase in royalties for his next book.
Doug wandered over to the magazine section of the shop and saw titles of magazines he never knew existed. Most of them were "girlie" magazines, exposing women's naked breasts openly on the covers. The periodicals were even categorized by labels on the edge of each shelf... "Straight"..."Gay"..."Lesbian"..."Bisexuals"..."Fetish". "Where on earth have I been?" Doug thought. "What century am I living in?" On one of the lower, uncategorized shelves, Doug saw a magazine entitled, "Men Friends". This sounded apropos to him so he took it to the lady at the register and paid a whopping $9.95 for a thin magazine, mostly without pictures.
He took his purchase to the small rotunda of the Briarwood Airport and sat down to read to pass the time until Charles arrived. Doug perused the magazine's table of contents and, on page forty-five, an article caught his eye. "How much do you love your best friend?" He then thumbed over to page forty-five and found that it was not an article to read, but rather a questionnaire consisting of one hundred questions. "Oh, well," Doug thought, "it beats trying to work a crossword puzzle, especially with all the new words that are added each year." He pulled his ballpoint pen from his shirt pocket and began to check "YES" and "NO" or multiple choice, as honestly as he could. Doug didn't really have a BEST friend. He had Father Cliff as closest friend, but Cliff was not THAT kind of friend.
Doug answered random questions. He didn't read through all of them. He skipped down the page answering only a few of them. Some of the questions were beyond belief, but Doug checked the box accurately as he could.
Some of the basic questions were:
"Have you ever undressed completely and been naked in front of your best friend?"
"Would you let your best friend see you if your penis was in a state of erection?"
"If there was a water shortage, would you shower with your best friend?"
"If you knew that your best friend was out of work, out of money, and hadn't eaten in two days, would you give him half of your food? All of your food? None?"
"If you and your friend were caught in an ice storm and both of you found your clothes were wet, would you be man enough to take off your clothes and try to warm him with your naked body heat?"
"Would you be afraid or would you be man enough to apply a bandage to your best friend's penis, if it required first-aid?"
"If your best friend was injured and lying in bed and couldn't bathe himself, would you bathe him, including his private parts?"
"If you and your friend had to share a bed, would you be embarrassed to sleep with him without any clothes?"
"If the temperature was freezing outside and you had on a wool long sleeve shirt over a T-shirt and your friend was naked from the waist up, would you give him your wool shirt, leaving you only in a T-shirt? Would you give him your T-shirt while you kept on the wool one? Or would you offer him neither?"
"If your best friend had both his arms in casts and needed to defecate, would you wipe his butt for him?"
"If your best friend had both hands in bandages and needed to urinate, would you unzip his trousers and hold his penis while he relieved himself?"
"If your friend suggested that you mutually masturbated one another for the thrill of it, would you be willing?"
"Would you ever give your best friend oral sex, just to satisfy him as a friend?"
"Would you let him perform oral sex on you, if he desired to?"
"If your best friend was moving away from you permanently, would you love him enough to kiss him goodbye on the lips?"
"Have you ever used your best friend as a masturbatorial fantasy?"
And finally:
"Does your best friend love you enough to do all these things to you?"
"Considering your answers..."JUST HOW MUCH OF A BEST FRIEND ARE YOU?"
Doug completely stopped marking off the answers. He couldn't believe that such questions were asked, especially in a magazine. What kind of perverted editor would print such a test in the first place? As Doug was asking himself these questions, he was all but stunned to find he had an erection jutting up from his trousers. "JESUS CHRIST!" he thought. "I must be a pervert for buying this prurient trash in the first place!"
He quickly stood up and did the best he could to conceal his erection as he walked to the nearest trash receptacle and disposed of his ten-buck purchase. "I believe in freedom of speech, but there HAS to be a limit on 'how free'?"
Doug looked at his watch and then glanced at the arrival schedule matrix to see if Charles' plane was on time. It was only 9:34 and he had almost another hour to wait. He had to quash an irresistible impulse to run to his car, head home, and somehow pretend he had forgotten the time and date of Charles' visit, but that was absurd. Of course, Doug's agreeing to invite Charles to his home for possible sex was even more absurd. To Doug, everything in his life seemed absurd at the moment.
<><><><><><><><>
The Chief of Staff at the Dallas AIDS Center welcomed Mike with open arms. He was happy about Mike and Tom's visit. Somehow news had spread across the miles and the communication wires that Mike and Tom would be making several stops on their cross-country trip, among them was the Center in Dallas. Tom had coached Mike on how to meet and greet his expected public with cordial handshakes, greetings, and the ability to listen, not commanding a conversation as most southerners do.
Mike could have cared less at looking at the new medical equipment and such. He wanted to go to every floor and visit every patient in every room of the facility. News of Mike's visit also had spread among the patients. Mike, the icon for the AIDS dilemma! The young kid from Alabama who had escaped death and conquered the disease! Mike was like some kind of miraculous hero, even a saint, maybe. Each patient hoped that he would get a glimpse of Mike, maybe even a handshake. Who knew? Maybe Mike had some spiritual force that could heal them! But the fact remained clearly that Mike had been extremely ill with AIDS, and now, he was healthy and AIDS-free!
Mike wasn't the least bit hesitant or reluctant about going in to visit AIDS patients. He tapped lightly on the first door he reached and strode boldly in. The patient's name, as Mike was soon to learn, was Ray. Tom, who remained in the doorway as Mike entered, noticed that Ray's facial color and expression seemed to change the very minute Ray saw Mike. Only seconds before, Ray's face was pallid and gaunt. Now suddenly, Ray was smiling and a warm-looking glow was on his cheeks as Mike grabbed his hand.
"You're Mike, aren't you?" Ray asked.
"Yes, how did you know?" Mike asked, puzzled.
"We ALL know Mike. Everyone here at the Center knows about you. All of us became excited when we heard you might come to visit us!"
"Thank you..."
"Ray, my name is Ray."
"Thank you, Ray. I'm pleased to meet you."
"No, Mike, the pleasure is mine...believe me!"
"And that's my Tom, standing at the door."
Ray raised his head from his pillow slightly to say, "Nice to meet you, Tom." He hesitated a moment, then quietly said, "You, two, are...?"
"Yes, Ray," Tom said, his smile really a glow. "Actually, Mike and I are on our...I guess you'd say, our honeymoon."
"My God, how wonderful," Ray exclaimed. "And you took the time to come visit us?"
"There's nothing either of us would rather be doing, Ray," Tom replied. "If we hadn't stopped in Dallas, that would've been grounds for divorce. Mike insisted that we stop."
"The way I see it, you two make a fine couple," Ray said.
"Does it show? I mean, is it that obvious?" Mike asked with bright-eyed innocence.
"It takes one who's been in love to know other's when they are in love," Ray replied. "I was in love once for nearly eight years. Even though he's gone and I miss him, I still remember the love that we shared."
"Did he have...?" Mike started to say.
"Yes, his symptoms were the first to manifest. Would you believe that he played football for the Dallas Cowboys before he got sick? Only a few of the players knew about me and Brett and our relationship."
"You mean...Brett...?", Mike asked in breathless disbelief.
"That's him, my Brett." It was apparent that, for Ray, Brett would always be warm and alive.
"My God, he was sensational! I used to watch him every Sunday on TV," Mike exclaimed.
"He was collegiate All-American," Tom added. "I followed his career since I was a kid in high school. I even had an 8x10 glossy of him on my wall. He was a fantastic athlete!"
"The Dallas organization was tremendous to Brett, AND to me. When Brett got too sick to play, he told the 'powers that be' upstairs about his condition and they paid for his medicine and treatment carte blanche. Then Brett bravely asked if the same coverage would extend to his wife or significant other. Well, rather than face a scandalous lawsuit from the ACLU and the GLBT Association, they readily agreed to pay for my treatment as well. I've never had to want for anything since I became sick, myself. The Cowboys chipped in as a team and paid for Brett's funeral and burial."
"None of that ever made the papers," Tom said. "I played quarterback in college and still follow both pro and collegiate games, but I never heard or read a word about that."
"It was on the QT. It still is," Ray said. "Some of the players who used to visit Brett in the hospital got to know me and many of them still come by the Center here, to cheer me up."
"WOW!" Mike said. "I never met a professional football player before."
"You don't have to," Ray said, smiling, "It looks to me like you've got your own football player that you love."
"I was playing quarterback when Mike met me, but now, he seems to like me better playing 'tight-end'!" Tom joked and Ray laughed out loud.
"Oh, Tom, I didn't mean..."
"I know what you mean. But if you WANT to meet a professional player, maybe Ray can arrange that for you," Tom said.
"That would be great!" Mike said. "Although I don't know how long we'll be in Dallas." Then turning back to Ray, he said, "Ray, is there anything you need? Anything you want? Anything that the two of us can do for you?"
Ray paused to think, then shook his head, and said, "I could probably use a big hug, if it wouldn't break up a relationship."
"How about TWO hugs?" Mike said, motioning Tom to join him on the side of Ray's bed. Tom sat down with Mike on the edge of Ray's bed and lifted him to a sitting position and the three of them huddled in a long embrace.
"Thanks, you guys," Ray said. "Just looking at you, Mike, and knowing that you conquered this plague has made me feel better than I have in days. Thanks, big guy!"
"No, thank you," Mike replied, "for making my trip worthwhile." Mike broke away from the huddle and said, "Look, Ray, I want to give you something." Mike reached in his pocket and pulled out a 3x5 business card. "Here's a list of names and numbers I want you to keep close at your side." On the card were printed the names and phone numbers of Jeff, Johnny, Alex, and Ted, along with Mike and Tom's cell phone number. "If ever you DO need something, want something...ANYTHING!, or if you just want someone to talk with, just call any number on the list. Also, at the bottom is one more number. If for any reason your condition gets worse or if you feel like you can't go on for one more day, call the Cole Institute and ask for Dr. Middleton. Tell him Mike told you to call."
The cards were a surprise to Tom. He had no idea when and where Mike had had them printed, but once again, Mike amazed him and also, once again, Mike had placed a lump in Tom's throat. He choked back tears looking at his lover. How many times had Mike created tears of pride and happiness in his eyes? And how many times were yet to come?
"Mike, I don't want to keep you guys because I know that there are many more, just like me here at the center who would like to see you."
"Oh, don't worry, Ray, I'm gonna see ALL of them if it takes a week or even a month."
"You've got yourself one hell of a guy there, Tom!"
"You think I don't know it?"
Mike and Tom headed for the door.
"God bless both of you," Ray said.
"He already has, Ray," Mike said. "He already has."
Once they had left Ray's room and were standing in the hall before going to the next room, Tom said, "Often at night, I wonder what I did for God to send you to me. I was so proud of you just now...the way you met Ray and gave him a bit of hope."
"It wasn't just me, Tom, it was both of us. We're a team!"
"And we're gonna be a team always, and that means forever! Now, let's go see the next guy before you start me crying again," Tom replied.
"Why? What did I do?"
"More than you'll ever know, my love, more than you'll ever know."
Tom put his arm around Mike's shoulder and they went in to see the next patient.
<><><><><><><><>
Depressed and confused, Lee walked aimlessly from the doctor's office. He felt like a scene from a movie he once saw, where Sean Penn was being escorted to an execution chamber and the prison guard announced, "Dead man walking...", only in Lee's case, it was "dead BOY walking. He had been stunned after hearing his diagnosis. He remembered only the bad part...his pronouncement of doom, not the possibilities of treatment and drugs. Not the probability that he could arrest his disease and live a long life. No, this was the end of him. Even if he didn't die from the virus, his dad would surely kill him, once he found out about it. Death by disease or murder? Some choices! Of course, he could always run away and die from the illness naturally, or again, he could commit suicide. Any of the options led to his damnation into the fiery pits of hell!
Too often had Lee heard his dad preach from the pulpit that God was punishing all AIDS victims and their souls would go to hell. He'd heard the same condemnation and the same results from his dad, speaking on suicide. Those people went to hell as well. So, HIV or suicide had the same destiny for their victims. Of course, if he DID run away, where would he go?
Before he knew it, he reached the sidewalk leading up to his house. Jake was coming around the corner of the house pushing his lawn mower. He had just finished whacking old Mrs. Davenport's weeds. She was so stingy, she would only pay to have her lawn cut once a month, and by the time that Jake mowed it, the grass was knee-high. Jake often thought that he would mow her lawn the rest of the weeks for free just so his task wouldn't be so difficult when he attempted to mow her lawn every fourth week.
Jake saw Lee and called out, "Hey!"
Either Lee was too deep in thought or he chose to ignore his brother; he didn't reply anyway.
"Hey, Lee!" Jake repeat.
"Oh, hi!" Lee replied, sullenly.
"Whereya been?"
"Walkin'."
"Walkin' where?"
"Nowhere, just walkin'."
"Why so glum?" Jake asked. "Who licked the red off your candy?"
Lee didn't respond.
"Then, why do you look so down? What's wrong?"
"Nothin'."
"Like heck, there ain't! I know you too well! I can always tell when somethin's wrong with you. So, what is it?"
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"You been to see that Mexican doctor, haven't you?"
No answer from Lee.
"YOU HAVE! I CAN TELL! He didn't find anything wrong with you, did he? You look healthy as me. Well, maybe not as tan, but you look healthy just the same."
Still no reply from Lee.
"Lee, I'd hate to knock you down and tickle under your arms until you tell me what's the matter, but I will!"
"I..I..oh, dammit!" Lee finally said, bursting into tears.
Jake came over and put his arm around his brother and Lee nuzzled his face into Jake's shoulder.
"Come on, now. It can't be that bad. What happened? What's wrong?" Jake pressed on.
Lee's words were muffled as he had his mouth buried into Jake's armpit. "I...I'm dying, Jake."
"You're WHAT? What kind of talk is that? What did that Mexican doctor say to you? I'll go down to his office and make him swim back to Mexico, the same way he got into Texas!"
Jake became aware of how his comforting his brother might appear to their neighbors. It would be best if they both went inside their house to continue to question his brother.
"Come on, Lee, let's go inside and sit on the bed and talk to me. I want to know EVERYTHING that happened."
Lee obeyed and let his brother lead him into the house, down the hall and into their bedroom. Luckily, their dad was still at church and wouldn't be home for supper for at least two more hours. This gave them plenty of time to talk, Jake thought.
"Hey, let me go get you a glass of water. That'll make you feel better!"
Jake went into the kitchen and ran the water from the tap until it was cold enough to drink. He filled a glass for his brother and brought it to him in the bedroom. Lee took the glass and gulped down the entire glass of water.
"Now, can you tell me what you meant when you said you were dyin'? What did that doctor say to you, anyhow?"
"Today was the second time I saw him," Lee said. "The first time I went, he gave me a physical examination and drew some blood. I had to go back today to find out what the blood test revealed."
"What did the blood tests say was wrong with you?" Jake asked, impatiently.
"Oh, Jake! This is horrible. Daddy's gonna kill me! I just know it!"
"Good Lord, if you're sick, why would Dad want to kill you?"
"Because of what I did and what I have."
"Lee, quit goin' all the way around Robin Hood's barn and tell me what's wrong with you? What did you do that was so bad?"
Composing himself, Lee answered, "Do you remember how Buddy suddenly moved away, almost overnight?"
"Yeah, sure. You said he had to go somewhere to get an operation."
"Well, that wasn't exactly the truth...only I didn't know it, either."
"What's Buddy got to do with your bein' sick?"
"Jake, this is so awful! I don't know how to say it!"
"Just spit it out!"
"I had sex with Buddy!"
"You what? WHEN?"
"Just one time...the day I took my last piano lesson from him."
"Good gosh, Lee, what did the two of you do?"
"Nothin' much. You remember how you and I fooled around, playin' with each other and cummin'?"
"How could I forget it? I've been tryin' for a month to get you to do it again!"
"Well, when I came, I came in Buddy's mouth and he sucked on my penis."
"WOW! I bet that felt good!"
"It did. Only what I didn't know was that....Buddy had AIDS or HIV!"
"Good Lordamighty! And he gave it to you?"
"That's how Dr. Gonzalez thinks I got it. I'm HIV positive."
"Jiminy! You don't think you gave it to me, did you? Should I go have a blood test?"
"No, no, no! You didn't swallow any of my sperm."
"Well, you didn't swallow any of Buddy's, did you?"
"NO, but the doctor said that he thought maybe Buddy's infected saliva saturated the spongy part of my penis and I absorbed the virus that way."
"Good Lord! I never heard of such a thing!"
"Neither have I...and I read all about HIV and AIDS at the library and there was nothing about catching it that way. But Doctor Gonzalez said it CAN happen that way...only in rare cases, and I guess I'm one of those cases."
"Well, what are you gonna do. There's all kinds of medicines now. I remember the coach telling us how Greg Louganis won two gold medals in the Olympics...and HE had AIDS...and he's still alive and looks healthy on the TV."
"How do you think I can explain this to Dad?"
"Oh, gosh! You can't! He'll raise the roof preachin' at you!"
"I know it."
"You ARE gonna try to get help and get better, aren't you?"
"Jake, all the way home from the doctor's, I decided I only have two options...runaway from home, maybe to Dallas, or kill myself."
"Well, you're NOT going to kill yourself. If you need to runaway from home, I'll go with you to take care of you. To heck with Dad! I still have close to $75.00 after everyone's paid me for the month. Do you have any of that hundred I loaned you?"
"About sixty dollars, I think."
"Then, let's get to packin' and go get us a couple of bus tickets."
"Jake, you can't go with me. After our money runs out, what will we have to eat on, and where will the two of us stay?"
"Heck, we can take turns sleepin' in the Trailways bus station."
"No, Jake, if I go...I need to go alone. I don't know what I'll tell Dad. Maybe I'll just runaway and not say anything to him. You'll be the only one to know the real reason, but you've got to act dumb and pretend that you don't know where I went. Do you think you can do that?"
"I will, if you promise to get well!" Jake said, excitedly. "Look, you can take the rest of my mowin' money and as soon as you find a place to stay, you can write or call me and I'll send you all that I make."
"God, I'm so sorry that it took something like this to bring us so close together. Maybe I've never said it out loud, but I DO love you, Jake."
"I never told you, either, but I love you, too."
The two of them embraced as if they would never see one another again. It meant goodbye...but for how long? Forever?
"Lee, pack as many clothes as you think you can carry and hide the bag under the bed. Give me what money you have and I'll sneak down to the bus station and buy you a ticket to Dallas and get a bus schedule, then the two of us will decide the best time for you to make your getaway."
Lee was amazed at how his kid brother suddenly grew up right before his eyes in less than an hour. Jake was completely in control of the situation.
<><><><><><><>
It was close to 10:00PM when Alex placed a call to his dad in Briarwood. Ted sat beside Alex on the couch, still turned on from the earlier session he had had with Alex at the center. Ted was eager to continue where the two of them had left off. It was his turn to devour Alex's privates, which he knew so well, after nearly fifteen years of bedroom escapades. As Alex was dialing the phone, Ted was trying to run his hands up the leg of Alex's cargo shorts. Alex was laughing at Ted's endeavor.
"Quit it, you pervert!" Alex jokingly screamed at Ted who was holding the phone at the very moment Walter answered.
"Hello? What?" Walt exclaimed.
"Dad?"
"Alex?"
"Yes."
"Whom were you calling a pervert?"
"I'm sorry, Dad, I didn't expect you to answer on one ring. I was talking to the Mayor of Mackintosh. I think he's trying to bribe me to vote for him at the next election. He's trying to grab my you-know-what!"
"Tell him that's a sure way of getting defeated. What's his name? Monica?"
"No, Dad, Monica did her deed in Washington. I think this one's name is Hortense."
"What does she look like?" Walter asked, playing along with his son's joke.
"She looks like Troy Aikman in drag. Her pectorals look like tits!"
Walter laughed. "How are you, son?"
"I, or rather 'we', are fine...Hortense and I. I hope I didn't call you too late!"
"Oh, no, Dave and I were watching a movie."
"Anything good?"
"It's a gay film, called, 'Her Husband's Secret Life'."
"Sounds like fun!"
"It is!" Walter replied, "Trashy but fun. What can I do for you, Alex?"
"I was calling to see how the adoption is coming along."
"Splendidly. The papers are all signed, except for Judge Nowlin, but I'll see him first thing in the morning."
"You don't foresee any problems?"
"None whatsoever. By this time tomorrow night, I'll officially be a grandpa and you'll be an uncle."
"That sounds great! I can't wait to see the kids."
"Jeff and Johnny have hired a male nurse, Dale, to come home with them and take care of the twins for a month or two. He's a pediatric nurse and he can teach the boys how to be proper dads. I think they'll be home late Friday night."
"Damn! That gives me four days."
"Four days? For what?"
"For a little surprise I'm planning for Jeff and Johnny," Alex said. "Do you know when Father Cliff's going to christen them?"
"Probably at a later date. In the meanwhile, I guess you can call them 'X' and 'Y'."
"Jeff didn't tell you about the names he and Johnny picked out?"
"It's like a national top secret. Do you know?"
"Yes, but I promised I wouldn't tell."
"You two are still like two peas in a pod."
"We're brothers! Don't you remember?"
"Yes and I also remember I'm your dad."
"Just wait for the surprise! Don't worry, the four of us in Mackintosh can still call them by their chosen names until the christening."
"All right, I'll wait and be surprised with everyone else. It was always impossible to pry a secret out of you and Jeff."
"Jeff kept more secrets from you than I did."
"How well I remember...and choose to forget!"
"Well, Jeff was the meaner kid of the two of us. I was your perfect son."
"I remember...you're the one that found my porno tapes and got Ted so horny he had to have sex with you in the living room when you were fifteen."
"You KNEW about that? HOW?"
"Jeff told me!"
"Why, that little fucker!"
"It's all right, you ended up marrying Ted, didn't you?"
"You mean 'Hortense'?"
"Yes, Hortense!"
"I wonder what would've happened if Ted and I HADN'T found your porno tapes. I wonder if we would ever've had sex?"
"Yes, you would! You and Ted were meant for each other from the time you were both three years old. I could see that. I even told your mother."
"Mom knew? She never said a word."
"Your mother was the smartest woman I ever knew. Why do you think I married her?"
"I've never really known. You're so happy being gay with Daddy Dave."
"Yes. To borrow a phrase from Neil Simon, Dave was 'chapter two in my life."
"Dad, I gotta run. Kiss Daddy Dave for us and I guess we'll see you at St. Genesius for the christening."
"Good night, son. Give my love to 'Hortense'."
"I will, if I don't have to call the police if and when she tries to rape me!!"
"You and Ted will never grow up. You're just as much like Peter Pan as Jeff and Johnny. Have fun...and make sure Hortense uses a condom."
"I'll give her a condom AND a douche!" Alex said and Walter laughed. "Good night, Dad."
By the time Alex had finished the conversation with his dad, Ted had completely stripped Alex of his clothing and was busy going down on his lover, gobbling his penis like a two-dollar whore in heat.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Alex called to Ted. "Can you hold it a minute until I call Larry?"
"I suppose, but hurry! My sperm count is low and I need a transfusion badly."
Ted stopped giving Alex oral sex long enough for Alex to make a phone call to Larry, the deacon at St. Aloysius.
"Hello?" Larry answered.
"Larry, this is Alex."
"Hi, Alex."
"I just talked to my dad and it's a 'go'!"
"Seriously?"
"One hundred percent! Jeff and Johnny are bringing the twins home Friday evening, so that gives you four full days. Do you think you can get everything done by then?"
"With about twenty volunteers I can."
"No, no, tell them I don't want anyone to volunteer. I'll pay them! Tell them I'll pay them double if they can have everything finished by noon Friday."
"I think that can be arranged."
"Thanks, Larry."
"It's my pleasure. Give my best to the mayor!"
"I will, but I think he has other things on his mind at the moment."
"Well, for God's sake, give him what he wants!" Larry said. "I remember how it was to be young, and in love---and horny!"
"You got the picture, Larry, that's the mayor, personified!"
"Good night."
"'Nite, Larry."
"Do you have any more calls to make?" Ted asked.
"No, but if I try real hard, I might think of someone to call."
"Like hell you will! Come on and let's get into the bedroom! I need some lovin'!"
"Since you put it that way..."
Ted chased Alex into their bedroom where they made love for the next three hours.
<><><><><><><>
Only four passengers got off the 10:30 flight in Briarwood. Charles was the last to disembark. Doug almost didn't recognize his brother-in-law for Charles had dyed his hair a warm shade of brown. He had lost weight and his physique showed signs of many hours of workouts and training at the gym. This new look made Charles positively handsome. Suddenly, Doug felt inferior. He and Charles were the same age, but apparently, Charles had taken their budding relationship more seriously than Doug. Charles had "prepared" himself for whatever was to happen between them.
"Charles?" Doug called, slightly.
"Doug?"
The two of them greeted each other with a cordial handshake rather than a hug.
"You look wonderful! What have you done to yourself?"
"A little dab of this and a bit of that. It's the lights. I don't look nearly this good in the daylight. That's why I took an evening flight."
"I must say...I should have been more thoughtful for you."
"Nonsense, you're just as young and good-looking as I remembered."
"Charles, I'm too old for flattery."
"You don't need flattery any more than I," Charles replied, and then added. "That's a nice cologne you're wearing...a bit unusual. It's like a mixture of several aromas...a bit of mint, a hint of spice, a touch of citrus with a wee dab of jasmine."
Doug was a bit taken back. He suddenly realized that he had all but drowned himself in four different fragrances without thinking that no two of them would compliment each other.
"Oh, it's something new I found at Lord and Taylor. I've never worn it before."
"Then you wore it just for me. I consider that a compliment. I like it. It's rather 'interesting'."
"Shall we go get your luggage?" Doug hurriedly suggested, trying to get off the subject of colognes, deodorants, balms, bath salts, hairspray or any other aromas he might have faultily mixed together.
"Fine. I have the tickets."
The two of them eyed one another as they walked to the claim window of the airport. One was just as nervous as the other, but both had vowed to themselves that they wouldn't let it show, no matter what. Charles' luggage consisted of two large heavy bags, which gave Doug the indication that Charles was planning to stay for quite a while.
"What if it doesn't work out between us?" was the thought running through Doug's mind. "This is so juvenile and yet, I'm so strangely attracted to him. I only hope I live up to his expectations and don't disappoint him because, very frankly, I don't know what in hell I'm doing!"
Doug grabbed one suitcase and Charles, the other, and they carried them to Doug's Lexus.
"Snazzy wheels!" Charles exclaimed, looking at Doug's new car.
"Oh, after Louise died, I wanted a change and somehow the car salesmen broke my willpower and, well, here it is!"
"I like!" Charles said.
"Have you had dinner?" Doug asked.
"Yes, thank you. I went to one of my favorite restaurants before I boarded the plane. I always hated flight food."
"That's right--It's just as well that they no longer serve meals during the flight--the food was always terrible!" Doug laughed. "I remember one time when Louise and I were flying to New Mexico to see the Grand Canyon. She took one of her suitcases and lined it with foil and Saran wrap and packed an entire dinner----fried chicken, boiled corn, mashed potatoes, the works! We carefully snuck it on in the first class section and both of us were scared silly that a flight attendant would catch us."
"Did anyone catch you?" Charles asked.
"Yes, the flight attendant AND the pilot!"
"What did they do? Did they make you give up the dinner?"
"Hell, no! Louise's chicken smelled so good, the flight attendant and both pilots wound up eating with us."
Doug and Charles laughed.
"I guess the airline employees didn't like flight food either!" Charles said, continuing the joke.
"You DO drink, don't you?" Doug asked. "I restocked the bar this afternoon."
"Of course I do. How do you think I ever got the nerve to invite myself down to visit you? It took nearly a case and a half of Jack Daniels to accomplish that feat."
"I'm glad. I bought two fifths of Jack Daniels today. It's the whiskey I prefer."
"Well, see?" Charles said, "we're already finding out things that we have in common."
'My God!' Doug thought. 'What else, if anything, do we have in common?'
"I could use a drink, right now," Doug said.
"You're not nervous, are you?"
"No," Doug lied. "Why should I be?"
"No reason," Charles replied. "It's just that I've had butterflies in my stomach all day, every time I thought about meeting you."
"And now that we've met? How do you feel?"
"A bit jumpy, I suppose."
"Look, Charles, we don't have to go through with this. I mean, we're both adults. We're kin and you can stay as long as you like for a friendly visit. We don't have to carry this any further."
"Are you trying to 'back out'?"
"No, but I was giving you the chance if YOU wanted to 'back out'."
"No, now that I'm here, I think we should go ahead as planned. We can take it as slowly as you like. We can start a relationship by the numbers and proceed at whatever speed we both find desirable."
"Thank you, Charles. That makes me feel a bit easier."
Doug pulled the Lexus into the driveway and said, "Well, we're home."
"I'm glad to be here...honestly, I am." When he said that, Charles put his hand over Doug's to make the first physical contact, which felt electrifying to Doug. His reaction to Charles' touch all but frightened him.
"Let's get your bags and go inside. You can freshen up while I fix us a drink."
"That sounds fine, Doug."
"How do you like your whiskey? Straight up? On the rocks?"
"On the rocks, please."
"That's the way I like it, too." Doug realized he had mentioned something else they shared in common and he was slightly embarrassed. Charles got the drift and didn't say anything, but each knew what the other was thinking.
Once inside the house, Doug took the plunge, saying, "I...I didn't know exactly what sleeping arrangements to make, so I fixed up the bedroom next to mine."
"That's fine. Whatever changes have to be made in the future, we'll talk about them later."
Doug showed Charles to the guest room and set down the luggage.
"The bathroom is in there," Doug said, pointing to the door adjacent to the bedroom.
"I know, Doug. Remember, I slept in the room when I was here for Louise's funeral."
"Good Lord! Where's my mind? Of course you did. I don't know what I was thinking!"
"You're just like me, Doug--jittery as a school boy. You don't know what to say or what to think!"
"Is my demeanor that obvious?" Doug asked.
"Only when it matches mine. Now, will you relax and go make the drinks?"
"Huh...oh, sure. I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Charles said, with a knowing smile.
Charles used the bathroom, washed his hands, combed his hair, took off his jacket and tie and went into the den to join Doug where Doug handed him a drink.
"Well..." Doug said, holding up his drink.
"Well?" Charles mused.
"Here's to us?" Doug said.
"To us!" Charles repeated. "I know it's proper to only toast with wine, but this is the exception." He clinked his glass with Doug's.
"Would you like me to put on some music?"
"Yes, do you have any Sinatra?"
"Lots of it. He's my fav..." Doug caught himself before finishing his reply.
"Mine, too."
"Okay," Doug said with a wry grin. "I suppose you like Ella Fitzgerald and Rosie Clooney, as well?"
"How did you know?" Charles replied, almost laughing.
"Oh, hell, this is getting ridiculous!" Doug said.
Suddenly with all the effrontery he could muster up, Doug set his drink on a table and walked over to Charles and kissed him solidly on the lips. Doug's action startled Charles at first, but slowly he responded to the kiss and placed his arms behind Doug's back. The kiss became more heated and passionate. Soon their lips were opening and their tongues began a hungry exploration of each other's mouth. The kiss seemed to last an eternity because neither of them knew what to say when the kiss broke.
Finally, Doug removed his lips and placed them onto Charles' cheek and he whispered, "God, I never thought I could do that."
"Neither did I. But I'm glad that you did."
"Does either of us know what we're doing? I mean this could lead to a lot of trouble."
"It could lead us into the opposite direction, too," Charles replied. "Doug, I've wanted this. I needed this. And, nightly, I've dreamt of this."
"Me, too," Doug managed to say before their lips met again. "Is it all right if I just hold you?"
"For as long as you like...a minute, an hour, a day, forever," Charles replied, before returning Doug's kiss.
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The last bus to Dallas left Fort Stockton at 11:30PM. Everything was set for Lee's escape. His bags were packed. Jake had bought the bus ticket and had given the remainder of his money to his brother. Lee thought it best if they said their goodbyes at home, after their dad had gone to bed. To avoid confusion and any hint of suspicion, Lee was going to the bus station by himself after Jake had turned out the lights in the Malone house.
Their goodbye was brief and sorrowful. They both realized that it might be a long time before they saw one another again, if ever. Lee felt guilty about leaving his brother to accept the brunt of their father's anger once he discovered that Lee had run away. Jake promised to play innocent, having no knowledge about his brother's sudden disappearance.
It was very dark and cloudy when Lee walked to the Trailways station, toting his suitcase. All the neighbors were early risers, which meant they went to bed with the chickens. Lee felt confident that no one would be awake to see him as he went.
This was the bravest thing Lee had ever done in his life. He was scared and he was aware of it. But, short of suicide, this was the only thing he COULD do. If only he had had the time to apply for Medicaid. If only he knew that the hospital in Dallas would accept him as a charity patient. If only he had a place to stay. If only he could find Buddy. If only he had more money. If only...if only...and a thousand more "if only's".
Lee looked at the bus ticket and saw that Jake had paid over fifty dollars for it. He, suddenly thought, 'if I cash the bus ticket in at the station and can hitch a ride, I will have more money to use once I get there.' The decision was made and fifteen minutes later he had fifty more bucks in his pocket. It was after midnight when he reached the state highway. He plopped his heavy suitcase beside him on the road and stuck out his thumb.
Twenty, thirty, forty cars whizzed by him with no one even attempting to offer him a ride. 'Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I should've taken the bus!' he thought, when suddenly a semi without a trailer stopped about fifty feet beyond where he was standing. Lee picked up his suitcase and ran, dragging his luggage part of the way. The driver of the semi opened the passenger door and said, "Need a ride?"
"Yeah, sure!" Lee replied.
"Whereya headed?"
"Dallas!"
"I'm goin' as far as Fort Worth if that'll help ya any."
"Fort Worth is fine."
"Well, git in!" the driver yelled.
The fifty bucks in his pocket from the refunded bus ticket felt good to Lee as he got into the cab.
<><><><><><>
It was nearly 3:00AM when Eddie, Jerry, and Skip left the Boob Cube in Dallas. All three had had one drink beyond their limit and all were horny as hell when they discovered that none of them even had the price of a blowjob from one of the well-busted dancers at the "Cube".
"Fucking bitch!" Jerry cried, "she sat on my lap for nearly an hour and got my dick so hard it won't go down for a week."
"Yeah, and who had two hundred bucks for one of 'em to go down on us for three minutes?" Eddie added.
"I'M HOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRNNNNY!" Skip bellowed like a cow. "AND I NEED SOME PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSY!"
"Well, don't look at me, I can't help you!" Jerry said, loudly.
"You got a hole in your ass, don't you?" Skip replied.
"Yeah, but it's got a cherry on the outside of it and it's gonna stay that way!"
"Hell, I need a HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLE to screw! Any old hole will do," Skip yelled.
"Why didn't you fuck that faggot a couple of weeks ago before I hit him in the head with a rock?" Eddie asked.
"Wonder what ever happened to him?" Skip asked, snidely.
"He was dead the last time I seen him," Jerry said.
"Deader than dead," Eddie added. "I bet the buzzards got him!"
"Holy shit, that means every buzzard in Texas will git AIDS!" Skip yelled. "We gotta do somethin' to lower the population of queers! Wonder how many of them there are in Texas? You know goddamned well he wasn't the only one. I heard they live in colonies like ants so that they can protect themselves."
"You wouldn't fuck one of 'em wouldja, Skip?"
"Hell, I'd fuck a queer coyote right about now, if I could find one," Skip remarked.
"Whereya gonna find one this time of mornin'?"
"I don't know, but I got a good idea. Let's go faggot huntin'!"
"What?"
"Right NOW! Let's go find us a faggot and I'll show you how I'll fuck one of 'em!"
"You don't mean that!"
"Like hell, I don't! I'd fuck a manhole in the middle of Market Street if my dick wasn't so big to fit in one of 'em!"
"Well, where do you plan on findin' a queer?"
"I don't know. My car is headed in the direction of Fort Worth. Maybe we can see one along side of the road somewhere. Shit! I might even fuck him in his mouth AND his ass! God I'm horny!"
"You're full of shit!"
"You can say that now, but I bet you'll sing a different tune when I find one! FAGGOTS OF FORT WORTH, BEWARE! I'M COMIN' AFTER YOU AND I WON'T GO HOME UNTIL I'VE FUCKED ONE OF YOUR FAGGOTY ASSES!"
Skip stomped his accelerator pedal to the floor and headed west on the highway to Fort Worth, the three of them screaming and whooping it up as they traveled.
<><><><><><><><>
(To be continued in "Briarwood"---BOOK SEVEN--chapter--seventy-one.)