FLATBUSH AVENUE - Part 12
ALL ROADS LEAD SOMEWHERE
Summer was flying by quickly, as it always seems to do, year after year. Adelaide had worked her final week, and moved to Indiana to be with her sister. Events had finally caught up to her and it was time to leave.
Asa gave Adelaide a handsome bonus for a remembrance. Then, before she left, Adelaide said to Asa; "who around here is going to look after you?"
"I don't need looking after' you think I will be like Durante and live to be 99 and then take a fall?"
"I'm not saying that. My concern is taking your medicine, eating healthy and keeping the house clean; this is all I'm saying. Do you want me to find you a housekeeper?
"I don't need a housekeeper, I manage just fine. I know how to eat, my groceries are delivered, and I can run a vacuum cleaner."
"I know you can; but keep your emergency call button handy, God forbid, something should happen. I will send you emails, so we can talk every day"
"Good, you do that; it will give you something to do"
"Oy, what a man" she mumbled. Adelaide closed the door for the last time, and she was gone.
Asa was used to being alone and it didn't bother him in the least. In fact, he preferred it that way. He wasn't completely alone anyway. He had Bernie, Carlos, neighbors, Thelma and her daughter Gloria living upstairs, and of course Adam and Andrew. He felt quite blessed.
A call came from Adam.
"Hey Asa, what's happening? Andrew and I are eating Chinese tonight at a new place that recently opened. Do you want to go with us, it's our treat? Andrew has the car tonight, and it would be cool having you with us; what do you say? We can stop by and pick you up."
"I say, you men go and have a good meal and a good time. You don't want me tagging along, spoiling your evening."
"No, no, no, you are not tagging, we want you there. I want you there," said Adam - but if you're tired..."
"I'm not tired, what time are you stopping by?"
"Early, about 6:00 pm"
"Okay – Chinese it will be. I will wait outside on the park bench. You can't miss me. I will be the one in the pink satin hat; but I'm taking the bows off." Said Asa laughing
"Get you – `a big pink hat' – grandpa, you're a funny man."
"That's what I've been told. I used to play the Catskills, every summer with Henny Youngman."
"No you didn't"
"Okay, I didn't"
"We are all set then, we will meet by the bench, across from your building, at 6:00 pm – now you've got it?" Adam asked
"I got it – I've got it. English, I understand"
"Later grandpaaaa," said Adam laughing as he hung up.
Asa was smiling as he tucked his phone back into his shirt pocket, where he kept it during the day. He surely loved having a war of words with that boy. He was special, very special to Asa.
Asa liked to sit in the window when he was bored watching people. He kept a chair next to the bay window for just that purpose.
He made himself comfortable and began watching some teen-age boys bouncing a ball heading into the park. They were roller skating and bounced the ball to each other while skating. They were good and never missed the ball. People moved out of their way without complaining.
Asa remembered when he was able to skate like that; as a teen ager. He was thinking of his past and wondering what the future held for him. One thing was for certain, there was no more roller-skating in the days ahead.
It was 2:00 o'clock and he had four hours to wander around and get ready. He showered, put on clean underwear and stretched out on his bed for a short nap. When he woke up it was already 4:30pm.
He used the last hour taking time to dress, with a certain amount of primping, and running the electric razor across his face. He sprayed some cologne into the air and ducked under it to get just a hint of fragrance. He liked smelling good, but not drenched like a common street whore in bargain-basement cologne.
Asa didn't want to dress like a young dude, in tight pants with a gold chain around his neck; but he didn't want to look like an old man either. He wore khaki pants, neatly pressed, of course, (and who presses khaki?) with a white button down shirt. His senior flip phone hid nicely in his shirt pocket.
He had good-looking arms and his face was still attractive. He was older, but not a wrinkled old man by any stretch of the imagination. Asa must have come from good genes, because he did not look his age. On the inside however, he felt like solid waste, with an ache here, and a pain there, most of the time. Practically void of testosterone, his rocket hard dick was nothing more than a memory. He gave a big sigh taking a final look in the mirror. When he was Adam's age, he was a knockout and dreadfully popular, sleeping with men from all parts of Brooklyn. He knew everything there was to know, about being a slut.
Asa was looking as cool as possible, primped, and sharply dressed sitting on the park bench before 6:00 pm. He was early, but the weather had cooled a bit, and it was comfortable outside.
It was not long before his entourage drove by to pick him up. Andrew was driving and Adam was beside him. When the car came to a stop in front of the park, Adam hopped out of the passenger seat.
"Ah, hah, hah, there's our man," blurted out Adam. He said to Asa. "Can we give you a lift sir?"
"Oh, cut the shit, this is no time to be a comic," replied Asa.
"I'm sorry grandpa; I just wanted to make you smile."
"I'm smiling – I'm smiling," replied Asa
Adam climbed into the back seat and told Asa to ride up front with Andrew.
Andrew headed towards Knickerbocker Avenue, knowing exactly where he was going. He could see Asa staring at him, whenever he glanced in his direction.
Andrew's face had a mysterious look with a short stubble red beard and smooth baby like skin. His body was beautifully trim with not an ounce of unwanted fat. He spoke very well and being an educated man was evident. His lips surrounded by the beard, was yummy by any stretch of the imagination.
"What is the name of the restaurant?" asked Asa
"It has an oriental name that is difficult to pronounce; but we can ask how to pronounce it when we get there", piped in Adam from the back seat.
"That's a good idea," said Asa.
The restaurant was not crowed and Andrew thought their busiest time was around 8:00 pm. This was a good idea going early and not having a crowded restaurant to deal with.
Most of the people, having dinner, looked oriental or Italian. There were also several black couples and a Hispanic family having dinner. The loud Italians talked and waved their arms about asking for this and that, like Jews at a lawn sale.
"This, you call deluxe?" said an overweight man, complaining to the waiter about the Chinese velvet chicken, listed as deluxe on the menu.
"Ohh, chicken vary wovely." Replied the waiter, bowing his head then walking away.
"Terrible, how people complain," said Asa "He must be a Jew."
"You're just as bad gramps, you complain about everything too," said Adam
"Ahh, but when I complain; better I am about it; who cares, my dinner is not chicken, so forget about it."
Adam lowered his head and smiled at Andrew. Andrew winked back at Adam and everything was fine.
During the meal, Adam said to Asa...
"Asa – I mean grandpa, Andrew knows about us. I told him you are not my real grandfather, and we just talk that way. He also knows that I have sex with you and we look out for one another. We talked about this and we have no secrets"
"Oh God, Asa interrupted - Is this is my last meal, because I am getting tossed of the Brooklyn Bridge; now, you've gone and done it," mumbled Asa quietly with his hand touching his head.
"I've been exposed like a rat on a sinking ship. You want I should have your boyfriend thinking that I am a dirty old man?"
"Oh stop, you are a dirty old man and its okay; Andrew knows everything"
"Everything!!, even number 1, 2, and 3 (which, by the way, you still owe me a number 3) Only Asa would think of saying that; at a time like this.
"Yup, every grubby little detail," replied Adam
Asa acted nervous, but it was an act. He suspected all along, that Adam had told Andrew everything, from the very beginning. Adam cannot keep anything secret for very long.
"So what did Andrew say?" Asked Asa
"Hey guys, I'm right here, remember me? - I'm Andrew; why you are talking, as if I'm not here? I'll tell you what I said'
"I said, that's pretty hot; especially when Adam told me how effective you are, because you know what you're doing."
"What's effective? "Asked Asa
"You know"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking. Maybe not so bright, you are."
"You know; – blowjobs, getting off, sucking dick, and getting your face right in there;" mumbled Andrew speaking quietly so no one could hear what he was saying.
"That's not bad," said Asa. "I just want to make sure we are talking about the same thing,"
"It's the same thing grandpa, the three of us are on the same page now," said Adam.
"Good enough, Pass me an egg roll. You are very bright Andrew," added Asa.
"Isn't Andrew a doll?" said Adam
"Yeah, a red headed Barbie." Replied Asa
"Do you like red heads?" Andrew asked with a serious look on his face.
"I love red heads," replied Asa
"Adam thinks it would be educational for the three of us to get together sometime. I am a red head – all the way down; my crotch has the same hair."
"Oy, Verklempt, you are making me"
"Could you handle another grandson? I'm not Jewish, but Irish and circumcised. You could pretend and adopt me too; what say you?"
"I say, we have some common ground here. Let me squeeze your cock"
"Stop it grandpa, you are terrible." Adam interjected, - "Andrew's not doing that."
"I didn't mean right here." Said Asa
"Mazel tov, on that one," replied Adam picking up the teapot sitting on the table.
"More tea anyone? Asked Adam
"You will like our adopted grandpa," continued Adam speaking to Andrew.
"I already like him and understand him. I feel like a cast member in a play, after going through an audition."
"Yeah, okay, now let's change the subject," interjected Adam
"Let him talk – let him talk, an audition is good. Such a nosh, I will be," replied Asa holding his cup, so Adam could pour him some more tea.
"What's a nosh?" Andrew asked Adam
"It's Yiddish slang - somebody who likes to snack or nibble on something."
"Oh, like a blowjob," replied Andrew grinning"
"No, that's not it, but it will do for now; stay positive. We'll make a Jew out of you before you know it."
Later everybody got fortune cookies.
Adam opened his cookie and smiled, not showing it to anybody.
"C'mon boychik' - (a Yiddish term meaning sweet talk' pertaining to a young man) what does the cookie say," asked Asa
"It says – `I'm big at parties," confessed Adam
"Well, it got the `big' part right," laughed Andrew.
"You're next Andrew – what does your cookie say?
"It says, "You can't fake delicious." "I don't get it." Said Andrew
"I do, and I will explain it later." said Asa
"Okay gramps; let's see what your fortune says." Mumbled Andrew
Asa broke open his fortune cookie and pulled out a tiny slip of paper. He read it and looked at his newly acquired grandsons.
"Well" said Adam. "What does it say?"
"It says – "You are accustomed to getting your own way."
"Well, I'll be damn," mumbled Adam
The waiter came with the check and Asa tried to take it; but Adam grabbed it away from him.
"I'll leave the tip," said Asa
"No, I will leave the tip," said Andrew, pushing Asa's hand away.
You see a lot with open eyes and somewhere in that moment was a spark of realism. For Asa, this was a new kind of awesome.
It would be polite to say that Asa didn't know where this relationship with Adam and Andrew was heading; but he knew.
Asa had a lifetime of experience, thanks to living on Flatbush Avenue. It had been decades since anyone had respected him like a genuine friend. Yes, there was Bernie, but Asa was thinking outside the box.
Life fools you / it really does – who knew that any of this would happen.
To be continued – Part 13 - The ride home
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