Chapter 12
October 31st; Tom and Paul were able to purchase a "Painted Lady" just seven blocks from Ike and Bill's house. With the impending Halloween party this eve, the old Victorian is decked out in a mass of cob webs, multi colored lights, and a large stash of dry ice in the large freezer to position in key parts of the house to create fog as the partiers converge on the mayhem of the evening. Tom stands in the large bay window thinking of Bill and Ike. Two weeks earlier, against Ike's doctors orders, Bill and Ike went on a Mediterranean Cruise for a month. Ike called a few days ago from Greece, and heading to Jerusalem and then on to Egypt for an extended one week tour. Tom thinks back to the days of his own trick or treating, the many Halloween costumes his mom and he had made up, the most favorite one that he can remember was that of an Pirate when he was 15. Reminiscing about the party then and his Swashbucklers outfit, the revelry, the camaraderie, the total fun of youth. Now, With Paul and himself coming up on their fourth month Anniversary, all preliminary paperwork has been done to adopt Doreen's baby, the new house to acomindate a baby, and the way his life has changed, is all but overwhelming in such a short time frame. Tom reaches over to start hanging the cobwebs over the bay window frame and shuts the tattered old curtains that they ripped for the party. Inside the the window area, is a pedestal that holds a plastic skull colored and enhanced with the talent of a local artist who made it look so real that it actually cause one person to scream when she saw it, for inside the skull, the artist had positioned two red LED's in the eye sockets to create the effect of evil inhabitance of the skull. The skull was placed on a motorized turntable that the skull would rotate slowly so all could see the effect of the eye's. Paul stands back to admire his work, the cobwebs, the torn and tattered curtains, and the rotating skull will give all who come to the house that eve a sign of a major party is underway. Everywhere Tom looks in the old painted Lady there are cobwebs and Halloween pariphinalia to accentuate the theme. A coffin is used to be a dinning room table with a pane of glass over it, two buckets of water are sitting under the coffin for the fog effect, and red lights are pointed over the set-up form above. Paul takes a satisfying sigh of completion as the door bell rings. Tom goes to answer as Paul is still standing in the bay window finishing up with little touches hear and there. "TRICK OR TREAT!!!" Tom stands in the doorway as they start handing out candy for the kids of the neighborhood. As he closes the door a familiar voice rings out from just outside the door.
"Trick or treat boss!" As Tom reopens the door he see's his secretary. "Nancy! Happy Halloween my dear, please come on in!" Tom gives Nancy a hug as she enters the hallowed halls of mayhem.
"WOW!" Nancy exclaims, "this place is awesome! You guys really did it up right!" Nancy proclaims as she looks around then with a gasping shriek, she see's the skull in the window.
Tom giggles as he realizes what she just saw. "Yea, I think we captured the mood, don't you?"
"And how." Nancy says as they walk around the living room.
"So. what brings you over here so early?" Tom asks as Paul comes out of the bay window and greets Nancy.
"This came for you today at the office," Nancy says, "I thought it might be important so I brought it over to you."
Tom starts to open the envelope, looks at the paperwork in wonderment. "Do you know anything about this hun?" As Tom glances over to Paul who is coming up on his side to see the papers that Tom is holding.
"Power of Attorney papers for Ike and Bill?" Paul states confused. "I don't know anything about this, you don't either? They didn't say anything about it when they called today, maybe they forgot?"
Tom looks at his lover with a quizzical look. "Maybe, but I'm gonna check it out any ways. Tom goes to the phone and calls the Lawyer that drew up the paperwork.
"So Nancy..." Paul starts up, "ya coming tonight?"
Nancy looks over to Paul and looks around the house. "The way this place looks, I wouldn't piss this party off for all the blood in the world!" Nancy smiles at Paul. "So, what are you wearing tonight?"
"It's a secret!" Paul grins as he shrugs his shoulders like a little boy. "What are you wearing?"
"O.K., thank you ma'am." Tom says in the background as he hangs up the phone.
Nancy says real quickly and quietly so Tom doesn't hear. "You'll see, not much different than my usual attire, but then again, very different."
"So..." Tom reopens the conversation, "what have you two been talking about?"
Both look at Tom and in harmony state, "It's a secret!" then they giggle.
"So," Paul asks, "what's with the paperwork?"
"Apparently," Tom starts, "Ike and Bill had these papers drawn up while in Greece, and had the lawyer there fax them here to be delivered to us in case there is anything that needs to be dealt with while they are gone and there lawyer needs to contact us for our approval." Tom puts the papers back in the envelope and puts them in the secretary behind the Electric Chair. Seated in the chair is a wax dummy that looks like he was electrocuted and left to rot in the chair. Tom walks around the chair and pats the dummies shoulder and says, "Hi Norman" and goes over to the bar. "Anyone want a drink?" Tom asks as he pours himself a Vodka on the Rocks.
"Oh, not me, I've got to get back to work," Nancy reluctantly turns down the offer, "but I'll take a rain check on that drink for when I get here tonight, ok?"
"Sure, that's fine hun," Tom says as he looks at Paul holding up his glass as if asking again if he wanted a drink.
"Do you think you should be drinking in your condition?" Paul asks of his lover who has just downed his drink.
"Bitch!" Tom retorts.
"Condition," Nancy quizzically asks while turning to look at each of the men, "what condition is that?"
"Oh, don't worry about it hun," Tom tries to put his secretary to ease, just a bit of expected father humor, I'll get him back though, he has the two O'clock feeding, along with the four O'clock and the six." Tom looks at Paul and grins the grin of "Gotcha!"
"O.K.," as Nancy takes a deep breath, "I ain't gonna touch that one, see ya all tonight then." As Nancy turns to leave Paul walks her to the door. Paul and Nancy exchange quick little winks and Paul closes the door.
Paul comes back to the bar and fixes himself a drink. Tom looks at his lover, indignant and pissed at the comment that he had made about having a drink in "his condition". Tom walks away from his lover as his lover tries to give him a kiss. Paul is left standing there wondering what that is all about. Tom is standing by the coffin fiddling with the array of accessories strewn out for the party.
Paul walks over to Tom and hugs him from behind. "What did I say to piss you off?"
Tom stops. Looks up from the table, and grunts as he shrugs off Paul's embrace. "My condition!" As Tom heads up the service stairs and slams the door to the office closed.
Paul is left standing there with a severe sick feeling in his stomach, knowing he caused a great deal of hurt to his lover and best friend. He shuffles around the house, trying to think of what he can do to rectify the situation. Suddenly, he stops! grabs his coat and heads to the door. "Hey Tom, there's something we forgot for the party, I'll be back in an hour or so!" As he closes the door Tom comes out of the office.
"What did you say?" Tom calls out with no reply.
The mayhem of the nights festivities were getting heavy in Fishermans Wharf, many revelers were out in costume, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were throwing little packets of condoms and people were scrounging to grab one or two as a memento, or as Paul was thinking, maybe even to use them. He hoped the later. Finally after pushing thru the crowd, he came up on the shop that he was looking for.
"May I help you?" Asked the sales lady behind the stand.
"Yes, I need 12 dozen of these." As Paul pointed to a large floral cluster.
"Oh Sir," the sales lady said, "we don't have 12 dozen, maybe 6 and that is pushing it with the holiday today."
Paul frowned and sighed, "O.k., do you have a box big enough to hold all 6 dozen?"
The sales lady roused around behind her and pulled out a large box that had been flattened by taking it apart on the base flaps, turned and said. "Is this big enough?"
Paul claps his hands together and exclaims, "Perfect!" He holds the box as the lady starts to load it. Paul pays for the bundle and heads back to grab the streetcar to get back home. As he is walking one of the Sisters calls out in his rough voice. "Nice box DUDE! Wanna party with me tonight?!!!" Paul smiles as he heads up the street. As he walks, he keeps kicking himself for the comment that he made and knows that this little present wouldn't make up for it, but hoped that in some way it might help heal the wounds he caused that ran so deep. Getting on the Streetcar, the conductor said that he couldn't carry the box with him be cause the car was so crowded right now, so Paul hung out the side of the car as it was going up and down the street with this large box hanging from the rope that was made to look like a large square lunch box he used when he was in grade school. Finally, the car came with in stopping distance of their house on Steiner, and he got off. Walking up the steps he saw Tom looking out the window seat a face of relief and quizzical look of curiosity as to what was in the box.
Tom held the door open as Paul came up the steps. "Oh God I'm glad your back!" Tom's starts sniffling, "I am so sorry for the way I acted earlier..."
Paul interrupts, "Open the Box." "I really didn't mean to hurt you I know you meant it as a joke..." Tom continues.
"Open the Box!" Paul says again a bit anxiously for Tom to see the contents.
"I promise that I won't act so silly about that again..." Tom continues as Paul brings his fingers up to Tom's mouth in a "shush" motion.
"Open the Damned Box before I shove it up your wonderful ass!" Paul exclaims
Tom stops, a smirk crosses his face as he kneels down and starts opening the box. "Oh my GOD!" Tom cries out, for inside the box were non other than 6 dozen Black Roses!
Paul starts, "I thought about getting Red, but that just didn't seem appropriate for the way the house looked, so... Black seemed better." Paul takes Tom's hand and pulls him to his up to meet his face. "I swear to you, that I will never hurt you like I did earlier today," Tom feels a tear rolling down his cheek, "and just because the Roses aren't Red, doesn't mean that I don't love you any less." Paul pulls Tom to him and they kiss. A Kiss that pulls their passion for each other out. Each of them start to undress each other right in the foyer of the house, not realizing that anyone coming to the door can see in. Tom starts to push Paul to the Floor and they are cuddling and fondling each other. Paul sits up on Tom's chest as he starts washing Tom's genitals off with his mouth. Tom takes the invite and starts to rim his lovers hole. Both men are in full heat of the moment as Paul switches around and mounts Tom's Blood engorged member. Slowly he rises and lowers himself on his lovers tool, causing great spasms of ecstasy in both men. Tom starts tensing up, and with a loud cry he fills his lovers shoot with a large Orgasm. Paul can't take it either, He shoots volley after volley of his own seed out across his lovers head and onto the tile floor. Shot after shot flow from Paul as some land on Tom's face, chest abdomen, and finally a puddle is formed in his bellybutton. Both men are in full passion and kiss as a loud roar of clapping and catcalls come from right outside the front door. Paul and Tom are startled by the ovation and look to see about half of the 20 people invited to the party had arrived just too early for either one of them to realize they had an audience. Amidst the cat calls and the cheers of the crowd, both Tom and Paul start laughing, with foreheads touching they kiss, and mouth "I love you!" to each other. The clapping goes on, as do calls for an encore!
With the party in full swing, the house if absolutely fantastic with the dry ice fog floating around the floor, every once in a while, one of the guests that dressed up as a zombie will hide in the fog and surprise some other hunky guest by sitting up while they are either sitting or walking around. Tom and Paul are standing by the Coffin Table drinking blood red colored wine in there gothic style Crystal Glasses, little bonnets on there heads, and adult diapers for clothing. Tom started looking around for something on the table and one of the guests asked what he was looking for? Another guest called out "I know, he needs his pacifier!" And with that, pulls out of his Zoot Suite Coat, this larger than average Dildo and hands it to Tom with the roars of laughter around the room. Tom and Paul stand by the table, hand in hand, kiss each other, as the few that were blessed with the special treat that they witness when they arrived started to call out "Encore! ENCORE!!!" Paul and Tom just giggled as they toasted one and all, then each other and drank. Anita and Dor were across the room, Anita was furious at the costumes that Tom and Paul had chosen, Dor was quite amused and thought it very apripo for being expected parents, and tried her best to calm down Anita.
They guests are reveling in the atmosphere that created such a great party, some stood around the haunted skull as it turned around on it's pedestal, others were looking at the skeleton in the electric chair as faint little bursts of light came from behind the rivet joints in the head band, wrist restraints, feet restraints, and even in the skull itself had lights in it so look like it was still being slightly electrocuted after all these years. The cobwebs all over the house we so effective that one partier commented that at least they had the chance after Halloween to clean the house beings it was such a mess when they moved in. Paul and Tom just looked over at each other, smiled, and thought of all the hard work that went into decorating and dirtying up the house for the party, knowing that in less than a month, there was going to be a Thanksgiving feast at the house, and it will not even look like the same house.
At the stoke of Midnight, the specialty cuckoo clock they had made pops out the raven's head and screams "Never More, it's 12 O'clock midnight, time to fuck the night away!" with that, the stereo system comes on and plays "Monster Mash". At this cue, the partiers start dancing, some even take it as an invite and start to strip, as Paul quickly tells the few to "not to let it all hang out" and the night goes on and the partying continues well into the wee hours of the morning.
The Morning After
Tom pulls his eyelids open with his fingers looking for any sign of Paul, his side of the bed is cold, what fucking time did he get up any ways, he wonders to himself. Looking over to the alarm Clock he spots a note that was addressed to him, from Paul,
Good morning sleepy head!!! I tried to wake you when Nancy called about ten this morning, had to rush over to the Office to clear up a massive mess. Will be home to help with our own massive mess downstairs. All my love,
Paul
"Massive mess? Oh my god..." Tom coming out of the hangover realized that the downstairs was still decorated in the Halloween party favors from last night. How did I get to bed last night, or was it this morning? He lay's there trying to figure out if he had the ability to move or if he was going to stay in bed till Paul got home. He looked over to the alarm clock, it read, 1:30 pm. "Ah fuck!" Tom musses, "the day is almost over!" With great exertion, he roles his aching body and head over to the side and looks at the night stand. Paul had left the box of Alka Seltzer, the ice bucket, a drinking glass and a pitcher of water. Tom smiles and reaches for the ingredients to start making himself a concoction of the magical elixir. He holds his nose and downs it in two gulps, sits there on the edge of the bed and waits for the liquid to start working. About five minutes and half a cigarette, he feels his stomach starting to churn, had scrambles towards the bathroom to "worship the porcelain god". Once the elixir has done it's job, Tom pulls himself into the shower and lets the water wash away all the aches and pains that the nights festivities had left. He thinks that how lonely the shower was with out Paul in there with him, and how glad he was the way he was feeling that he wasn't in there with him now. The noise of the water is almost more than his head can handle. After about 20 minutes of the noise torture, Tom turns off the shower and steps out to dry off. His muscular frame is showing well in the mirrored wall that is in the bathroom. He looks at his reflection and sighs at how happy he is about his physic. Taking a handful of aspirin and a luke warm glass of water, feeling much better now, he pulls on his sweatpants and heads downstairs.
The odor of the night before is still very pungent to Tom's nostrils. The smell of alcohol, and tobacco smoke, mixed in with the aroma that was left from the dry ice mixture, made the whole downstairs in dire need of a spring housecleaning. Tom walked around and opened all the windows on the first level of the house. It was lightly raining outside, no big surprise for the City, and the fresh scent would do wonders for the smell of the house. Walking into the parlor adjacent to the dining room where the most of the party was held, he looked around at the mess and said. "It looked so much better yesterday than it does today." With that, Tom headed to the phone to call the theatrical company to come get the rentals that they owned, and then started to grab all the cobwebs that were so meticulously hung to look real. Down came the ugly old curtains that came with the house that they ripped to look older than they really were, out went the buckets that held the dry ice, and down came the atmosphere of the mayhem and partying that had occurred such a short time ago. With all the trash picked up in the Parlor, Tom went over to the bar and fixed himself "a bit of the hair that bit the dog" from last night, looked at the Dinning room and sat down in the King Louis Chair that was a present from Ike and Bill when they bought the house. The King Louis Living room Set must have cost a small fortune, but Ike and Bill never seemed to care about money when it came to spending it, and enjoying it, and besides, Bill was right, it did look fucking flawless in the house. Tom looked at the cobwebs lightly blowing in the breeze, still hanging in the Dining room and all the mess that was still there, took a drink and sat down the glass deciding that he was going to wait and let Paul do the Dining room, after all, he did the Parlor. With that, Tom laid his head back in the Chair and off to sleep.
Have A Great Gay Rainbow Day!!! B. A. Ratzlaff Curator, The Museum of the Nude Male http://www.babykake-usa.com