This is an explicit fictional account of homoerotic behavior. If you are offended by such material or access to it is banned in your community read no further!
The characters and situations portrayed are purely fictional and therefor(e) have no fear of catching or passing on STDs. If you are sexually active, play safe and use protection.
Comments and criticism of this work are welcome. Email: sandjlikeboyz@live.com
Josh's Summer Job 11
Jamie had plans for the afternoon, and Josh dropped him at home and made the bank before closing.
"Ready for lunch?" Josh offered as they pulled away from the bank.
"That'd be cool." Danny beamed. Billy agreed. They both seemed perplexed as Josh rolled past the fast food establishments on the main drag. He stopped on the edge of town at a location with which neither of them were familiar. The clientele was older. Many looked as if they'd recently come from the nearby golf course.
Several of the waitresses welcomed Josh. He shepherded his charges to a table in the back. The room was well worn. The booths were comfortably aged red leather. A solid cacophony of conversation, clinking china and tinkling silver filled the room.
"I don't think I have enough cash to eat here." Billy warned.
"You're money's no good today." Josh said allying his fears.
An older waitress appeared. She filled their water goblets and smiled at Josh.
"Hey honey."
"Lookin' good Hanna," Josh grinned.
"What can I get you boys?"
"You guys like roast beef?"
They both concurred.
"Bring three of the usual."
She smiled and dashed away.
"Never been in here," said Danny.
"I think I was here one time. Long time ago, for breakfast on a Sunday." Billy remembered vaguely.
"Sunday," Josh said being drawn back to the conversation. "They have a great Sunday brunch."
"Place is kinda strange though. Customers are like upscale, but the place is kinda beat up."
"It's a joint."
"A joint," Billy croaked imitating the voice he used when holding in a hit.
"Nah, a joint, like a gin joint, or a juke joint."
"LIke Bogie's joint in Casablanca." Danny realized.
"Exactly, been here for years, catering to the same crowd, and that crowd doesn't like anything to change."
Several middle aged gentlemen strolled by, Billy noticed one of them wink at Josh.
"The carpet back here was like half a century old, and the owner had it replaced. Looked like the same stuff, the same color, but the regulars grumbled about for over a year before it faded into the mix."
The waitress appeared with salads. They were already dressed. Josh and Danny dug in. Billy gave it a cursory try, and finding it edible, joined them. When he paused to take a draught of his water he noticed the attention of a man at a table across the room. At first he thought he was the focus of the man's gaze, but realized it was Josh after a moment. Josh looked up and saw the admirer. Billy watched them both closely. The man nodded at Josh's recognition. Josh lowered his gaze as if embarrassed, then reestablished eye contact as he unleashed that potent smile. The man lifted his glass in a subtle toast, and called the waitress.
Billy marveled at what he had just witnessed. The waitress returned with garlic bread, and three bottles of St. Pauli Girl."
"The boss is in?" Josh asked.
"Oh yeah, and he saw you comin' in. Expect he'll drop by the table `fore long." Hanna bantered.
"He didn't send the beer?"
"Nah just the garlic bread. The beer's from table six, Dr. Richards. You boys need anything else."
"You know what I need." Josh teased.
"Oh honey, what would ya do with this much woman?"
"Leave her dreamin' o' more." Josh replied matter-of-factly.
"You devil."
"He is," Billy thought returning to his salad.
"These ain't all for me." Josh said handing out the beers.
"We're not of age." Danny said sipping at the bottle.
"Like I am. No one's gonna ask for ID in here."
No sooner had they finished their salads than lunch arrived. A crusty roll piled with medium rare eye of the round and sautéed onions beside a heap of real mashed potatoes, all drenched in steaming au juice. The boys fell quite as they gorged on the sumptuous luncheon. Billy was sopping up the last of the gravy when a shadow stretched over the table.
"Thought you were going to sign up for my summer class?"
"Dr. Richards," Josh said half rising as he shook the man's hand. "Too many clients this summer Sir, and the only section offered was in the morning."
"That's a shame. We could have used your input. Discussions aren't nearly as lively without you."
"I have the books, Hume, Locke, Smith, Mill. I've been reading."
"Come to class if you have time, or stop by my office and we'll discuss the topics if you like. I have office hours until late Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, no one takes advantage of those hours."
Josh took out his calendar and made a notation on Thursday afternoon.
"I'd love to take advantage of ya...those hours sir. Around three?"
"That would be fine." The professor chuckled.
"Dr. Richards, so nice to see you, hope everything was to your liking," said a very handsome gray haired gentleman in a vest and tie.
"Very good Mario, as usual. See you on Thursday Josh."
"Joshua, you been away for too long. How come?" Mario said sitting in the empty chair at their table.
"Business is that good." Josh said
Billy noticed something in his demeanor had changed as he addressed this man.
"So good that you can do my landscaping for free?"
"Didn't I leave a bill? I'm sure I did."
"For the business, but not for all that work you did at the house."
"I didn't do any work at your house. I spent some time helping a friend."
"You're too good," the man said touching Josh's hand. "Who are your friends?"
"Bill Johnson, Daniel Fellows, Mr. Mario Funello. They're lending me a hand with work today."
"Johnson, of course, look at him, his mama's beauty in a man's form."
Billy blushed.
"And Mr. Fellows I suspect an Italian in your family tree, with that fine olive skin."
"Greek actually Sir. My great grandfather came from the islands."
"Sir, who is sir, I am Mario, and this is my place. Friends of Joshua are friends of mine." The man stated unequivocally. "You boys ready for desert? I been baking all morning."
"You're gonna make us all fat." Josh said slapping his taught belly.
"Boys cannot get fat. They're too busy, runnin' all over, working, playing," He said raising an eyebrow as he chuckled.
"Leave it up to you then." Josh smiled, but his eyes belied a deeper intensity than normal.
Billy couldn't help but notice the differences in Josh as he interacted with Mario. Something was at work here, a depth of feeling, a sincerity of action, a perceptive vision beyond the scope of the normal that motivated this acquaintance of his. Over the past day and a half he'd been exposed to a variety of Josh's personas. They all seemed to emerge from a core that was deeper still. Billy wondered at who he'd fallen in with. Not a wonder of concern, but one of true amazement.
Mario excused himself. Hanna appeared a short time later with plates of layered cake, one chocolate two vanilla. The layers were liberally frosted in whipped cream, and dressed in fresh bananas and strawberry. Josh only tasted his, before pushing it away. Hanna left the bill with desert. Josh gave it a cursory look and dropped three twenties on the table. Billy excused himself to the bathroom as they made to leave. On his return he gave into the temptation and looked at the bill. The garlic bread, the beer, and the desert weren't listed. The only notation on the check was three lunch specials at six dollars and fifty cents each, leaving a tip of just over forty dollars. As he set the bill back on the table he noticed Josh hadn't touched his beer.
He was startled to find Mario standing behind him.
"He is your friend?" Mario said having noticed Billy's inquisitive expression.
"Excuse me?"
"He knows Hanna is raising two grand children, so he helps when he can."
Billy considered that for a moment.
"He needs friends, friends who value the good in him, young friends like himself," Mario explained, "not old men like me. Come back soon, it was good to meet you."
The man's hand rested on Billy's shoulder. It was warm and stroked his back in a paternal way. Billy looked to the man's eyes and found them filled with concern and affection.