"The Unwritten Handbook"
Part 3
There comes a time when everybody thinks they are correct. Kyle thought he was correct about Otto, now realizing that he may have misjudged him. Everything was quiet – too quiet.
It is a foolish way to be miserable, so when Otto avoided Kyle for two weeks, it was just more of the same bullshit he witnessed so many times in the past.
Why waste energy grasping at something you cannot maneuver? That is the question.
Kyle has plenty of memories in his repertoire, and did not dwell on the miles he did yesterday. There is much to recall, like an out of work actor, remembering the sound of applause. So yes, there was much for Kyle to remember all in double digits.
John Lathers was young and wrote plays and skits that were acceptable but far from professional. Folks thought of John as a local boy, who someday may be a factor in entertainment. Kyle had his own opinion about that, but kept it to himself.
Kyle received a phone call from John
"Kyle...this is John Lathers."
"Hey bro – what's happening?" replied Kyle
"The ladies auxiliary of the American Legion Post, is presenting a holiday skit about Christmas. It is not the `manger' thing; it is about shopping."
"Yeahhh okay, so you wrote something taking "Christ" out of Christmas"
"No, no, no, not at all. I wrote a comical situation about a man buying perfume and his encounter with a sales clerk. The same man goes to look at women's lingerie and...well, it is funny and you would have to read it. He gets the words panties, undies and knickers confused with jingle bell rock playing in the background.
"It sounds dreadful," commented Kyle
It is dreadful and written silly on purpose. "I like writing nonsense. Did I ever tell you, I am a fan of Mel Brooks?"
"Yes – about twenty times."
"Oh" "If you are looking for an idiot buying perfume, I am not interested," said Kyle
"No, not doing that. I already have the person. It is Otto from the Autumn Festival
"OTTO, good grief, he's a dope"
"Yeahh, I know. I am good, aren't I?" said John smirking.
Otto is dense about things, so that makes him perfect. My question, would you work with him on how to speak his lines in a humorous way?
"Whatever made you think of using Otto?
"He is straight, (well, he says he is) has a good speaking voice and agreed it do it.
"Amazing" said Kyle
"Well not at first. His girlfriend Amanda urged him to take the part."
"Now, I get it.," concluded Kyle, "she decides and he does it,"
"You don't know that," said John defending his choice of Otto.
"Will you do it?" asked John. "Help him to cleverly stress sentences and pauses, I will handle the directing."
"Sure, I'll do it"
"Swell, great, cool, will be in touch." Babbled John
Kyle thought about Otto. He was the type of man somebody gay would find old fashioned with a few flaws in his comfort zone. His weakness seemed to be Amanda, his girlfriend,
Amanda did not like Otto around Kyle. She knew he was gay; everybody knew he was gay and it seemed ridiculous for her to choose with whom he could associate. She was a perfect example of living through a flood.
Otto, spoke often to Amanda, about how well he got along with Kyle, so Amanda nipped that comfort in the bud as quickly as she could.
She never felt good about them kissing each other in the autumn stage play, even tho it was acting and the audience knew it was comedy acting.
"This will be a make or break moment," thought Kyle. "He ignores me and now is going to work with me. Occasionally, things work out fine, if you leave room for crazy. There may be an asset here, or just the opposite. In any case this gives stupid a whole new meaning."
Otto's neighbor, Marie, was a member of the "Woman's Auxiliary. She was also chair of the entertainment committee for the Christmas banquet, which town's folks called a Holiday Party.
She asked John Lathers to write a skit for the Legion's party, in Mel's style... "And why not, Mel Brooks is great"
A rehearsal for Kyle and Otto planned for Saturday afternoon. One had neither seen a script and had no idea what the play was going to be about.
"What do you think of John's play?" asked Otto, after finally reading it.
"It is junk. I can't believe people are going to make fools of themselves doing this shit for the public – but what do I know." Said Kyle
"We are not doing it," admitted Otto
"What did you say? Asked Kyle
"It isn't for the American Legion. It is a rooze."
"What the hell does that mean? Who are you deceiving?" asked Kyle obviously annoyed
"John wrote this trash, for bringing us together and keeping Amanda away." He explained – "It is not the play for the Legion Post.
"Geezus bro, are you that frightened of Amanda?"
"Sort of" replied Otto in a quiet voice
"Isn't it about time to get out of the 6th grade?" Kyle scolded
Kyle was not pouting and storming away; no not at all. This made about as much sense as reading a Dick Tracy story. Imagine, doing all this nonsense, just to make a difference.
Kyle was not like most gay people. He was something else, although he genuinely liked Otto, did not care for tricks - Humph, this was a trick.
Kyle was well aware of Otto's good looking junk and a hard body. It is tough for a gay man to walk away from that.
He was not walking away, just the opposite. He was in hot pursuit.
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