Part 7
The phone rang at seven the next morning. Of course, it was Dennis.
"Well?" he asked.
"Well what?" I answered, "We had dinner, we talked a lot and it was very pleasant. What did you think of him?
"Well, George and I can't quite agree. Oh, we both think he's very attractive and quite sexy, but George's gaydar didn't ping like mine did."
"Yours did?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, it went off in my head. But at the very same time I got a nervous vibe about it. George just got the nervous vibe."
"Thanks for the feedback," I said, "Now, I've got to get to work."
I saw Art only in passing on Monday but we ate lunch together on Tuesday and he said he'd started his Internet reading the evening before.
"So far, it's all been very interesting. Thanks, man."
Art phoned me in my office on Friday and asked if I'd be home that evening. I invited him to have dinner, but he said no, he'd be over after dinner. That puzzled me a bit, but I agreed.
I met him at the door and as soon as I'd closed it, he gave me a quick but tender kiss.
"That's to say thanks," he whispered. I looked at him quizzically and he came in and sat down to me.
"For all those websites you found for me. I've spent quite a few hours checking out those and some other sites and really feel like I'm beginning to understand things a little bit better.
"I also had a very interesting session with my pastor last night. I sometimes go to the Bible study group if I'm not too tired and afterward we had a private chat.
"My church is not one of those fundamentalist churches which is so rabidly homophobic. It's pretty much down the middle on most things but the pastor has never spoken on the subject, at least when I've been in church.
"I mentioned to him about that old high school friend who came back and asked about the church's position on being gay. He gave me one of the most intelligent answers I've ever heard. It reminded me of something you said to me early on about God deliberately creating gay people in the world." I chuckled at his remembering that.
"Now, I'm not done with all the reading I need to do, but I felt I needed to talk to you and tell you that I'm trying very, very hard to figure me out and understand this whole deal."
"I'm glad it's helping you," I said, "And I'm glad your pastor was so well informed. I think many of the mainstream churches are coming to grips with the subject lately."
"I also need to clear the air about a few things, because I want us both to honest," he went on, "I didn't quite tell you all the truth about all my experiences. I first had sex with a buddy in high school a year before I went into the Marines. It only happened a couple of times and I figured it was just youthful experimentation. I've lied to myself about having enjoyed that ever since." I didn't say anything and he went on.
"Remember what I told you about not liking to kiss and stuff? Well, that, my friend, is what you call major denial. I figured that out from my reading on the 'Net. I told myself that having sex with my buddy was okay 'cause we were guys who needed to get off. And as long as we didn't kiss or stuff, I could just about manage to convince myself that it wasn't because we were queer or gay." I nodded but kept silent.
"So that's where I'm up to. I've told you the truth and admitted I felt guilty. Now, the next phase, is moving forward and approaching this in the positive way some of those websites have directed me." He stopped but he didn't look like he was finished. He had an almost sad look on his face.
"Please encourage me," he said, almost pleading, "Tell me I'm doing the right thing."
"Art, my friend," I said quietly, "You're doing the right thing because you're getting to know you - the whole you. It's not a case of proving that you're gay or not gay. It's doing all this so you'll know who and what you are. If you're straight, you're straight. If you're gay, you're gay. Then you can decide how to proceed with your life. Right?
"Right," he said and this time he smiled. "Thank you for helping me like this. I've really needed someone like you in my life." He surprised me by standing up and heading toward the door.
"I've got an overtime shift tomorrow so I'd better head out." I walked over to where he stood. When I neared him, he put his hands on my shoulders and pulled me to him and kissed me. It was electric again for me, especially when I felt his tongue touch my lips tentatively. I met his with mine and he made the slightest moan. It was nice, very nice.
Part 8
Art called late Saturday afternoon.
"God, I hate overtime Saturdays," he groaned, "I'm exhausted."
"Poor guy," I sympathized.
"Well, the reason I called is just to say hello and that I've been thinking about you all day. I really meant what I said last night about needing a friend like you."
"Well, you didn't wait for me to say it last night, but I like knowing you as well. I think you're a great guy."
"Thanks," he said very quietly, "That means a lot to me."
We talked just a few more minutes, before he said he was tired again and wanted to shower and relax. I told him I'd call him on Sunday.
I called Art after church on Sunday but he wasn't home. I left a message and then went out to do some shopping I'd not done the day before. When I got home there was a message from Art. He was back on his Internet reading, he reported, but he'd talk to me at work the next day.
Monday was a hellish day at work. We'd advertised to add an additional shift and there were 75 people in the waiting room when I arrived at work. The Assistants were handling them, getting applications and so forth, but all those people being around made it difficult for me to get anything done. Finally, I sought refuge and went out to the foundry and ran into Art.
I explained about the mass confusion in my offices and he sympathized. We ate lunch together and he brought me up to date on his Internet reading. It sounded like he'd gone far beyond the sites I'd provided and when he started telling me about reading some gay stories I started to laugh.
"Don't take those as gospel," I said, "I'm afraid some of those stories are a pretty fanciful view of what being gay is like."
"Oh I know," he countered and I watched him blush. "But I did find some other sites that I think you'd find interesting as well. I'm gonna send you an email with them." I thanked him.
"And most of all, I found an essay on being gay and being special that really moved me. I'll send you that one as well."
"You're becoming quite a student of this, aren't you?" I said.
"Well, it's important to me," he said and blushed again. "Damn." I'm sure I looked confused. He grinned.
"You're giving me a hard-on," he whispered. I smiled my broadest one.
"My hands never left my body," I said with a laugh as I tapped all my fingers on the table. He laughed too.
"I gotta go," he said, "I'll call you later in the week."
Back to the maelstrom that was our offices, I was glad to see that order had been somewhat restored. We had a lengthy meeting to review applications and ended up with about thirty applicants who looked promising. We'd get on those interviews this week and I knew I'd be plenty busy and that I'd be putting in plenty of hours doing it.
I didn't get home until almost seven o'clock every night that week and by Friday I was exhausted. It was just getting ready to close up my desk on Friday when Art called me.
"Wow, you're a busy guy," he said. He told me he'd tried to call me several times at work but hadn't been able to get through.
"I'm pooped," I said, "This has been the week from Hell!" I was supposed to go out to dinner with Dennis and George tonight and I was trying to figure out if I could get out of it.
"Well, I'm having dinner with my sister, so how about you rest up tonight and we'll have a small, intimate pool party at my place tomorrow afternoon. No week-end work this week."
"Sounds great," I answered. We agreed that I'd come over about one o'clock. That gave me time for my Saturday chores. Art promised to provide lunch.
"Bring that sexy bathing suit of yours," he whispered, "I want to see you in that again." He sounded excited. I just laughed.
I decided ultimately that I would meet Dennis and George for dinner. We went to a very quiet little new place they'd heard about and it was indeed very nice. We had just ordered drinks when I saw Art walk into the restaurant. He was alone so I waved him over.
"Hey, guys," he said, "I'm early to meet my sister."
"Join us," Dennis said and Art sat down. He ordered a drink when the waiter returned and we sat and talked for about ten minutes or so. It was very friendly and we had a nice chat. Then a very attractive woman came in the restaurant, and Art jumped up to go meet his sister. He started to reach for his wallet.
"No, no," I said, "My treat. Have a good time with your sister."
"Wow," Dennis said after Art had left the table, "I don't know what changed but my gaydar went off with a bang." George said his did too.
"And you know what," Dennis went on, "There was no nervous vibe with it this time. What have you been doing with that man?"
"Well, not what you're thinking, that's for damn sure," I said, laughing. I explained what had transpired about the Internet sites and all that and told them I thought Art was really getting to know himself from his study.
"I think I better check out some of those sites," George said with a chuckle.
"The Hell you say," Dennis answered with a laugh.