To Love Him

To Love Him

By

Retta Michaels

Disclaimer: If you are not of age, or in a locale or country where it is legal to read gay erotic stories, then please don't do so. Your presence here jeopardizes the future of the rest of us. Please go away and come back when it is legal for you. We'll be glad to have you.

Brief Author's Note: I'm sure there are folks who read this who will immediately recognize the diecasting foundry which is portrayed in this story. The story has a bit of truth in it, but it is fiction...if only it had turned out this way.

Also, the story is meant to be tongue in cheek. When I am supervising people as their employer this is the way I am. Let the employee work and I don't micromanage at all. After all, if they didn't know the job, I'd be taking care of it when the problems arise.

To Love Him

I began the evening going to my office at the back end of the factory. I'm a supervisor at a leading diecast manufacturer in the St. Louis area. My job is to basicly see that others do their job, see they are trained to do it correctly, and to see the product gets out the door in time to meet the manufacturer's deadline.

Most of the tasks I was given as a "To Do" list were easy to do. Just go out at the beginning of the shift and tell my guys what I expected of them and be smart enough to stand out of their way while they did it.

They were a good group of guys. They'd break their backs for me and I knew it. It didn't matter if they knew I was gay, or not. What mattered is they knew I got promoted into the position as my predecessor had summarily gotten fired for yelling at them like she was a screaming shrew. It affected morale, and it affected the guys esteem. I, myself, had come under her wrath and knew what the union required of me and only did that...not one fucking part more. I made my stand against her in the only way I could...my production.

As things went, the psycho bitch in the front office made one too many bad moves. She pissed off someone who went to the front office and called a union shot on her. She cussed him and he happened to have a voice activated recorder in his pocket. Hmmm...that person sounds like me!

Well, as things went, she went out the door and her job got put up on the bid sheet. It was there for 3 weeks and no one applied for it, so on the last day of bidding, I went in and said, "I'm your man."

Dave, The G.M. (General Manager) said, "Can you do the job?"

And I said, "Well, I can't do it worse than her!"

So, as they say, I'm now the boss. Haha!

So, as I was saying, my main function is to keep everyone happy, see to it the machines all ran, and to walk around and make sure no one was taking too many naps. Oh, also, I had to get the product out the door.

That last sentence was my main worry the whole night long. The front office in their wisdom gave me a sheet which told me what was expected and when it was expected for the next week. I'd get the list about mid-week of the week before, so I had a little bit of a head start on things.

Things usually went smoothly, but there was always one part which was a real problem...transmission pans.

The part was different than most every other part in the whole place. The whole key to diecasting, in our plant, is real easy. It's like making a cake and making ice cubes. With a cake, you put a liquid into a mold and you spray the pan before hand. Now, imagine if you were making ice cubes and doing the same thing. Basicly, you're putting molten metal into a mold and when it comes out cooled, it's a part. Does this make sense? Good, you're hired! It's that easy...not exactly rocket science.

Well, as I said, trans pans are the exception to the rule. With a normal die, you take an air hose and you blow off excess spray before you shut it and the mold is injected with the metal.

With trans pans, you spray that die until you can't spray it anymore...to be explained in a minute...and at the last possible second, you shut the die without blowing it off. Just as soon as the die shuts, the metal gets shot, and then it takes about 3 minutes for the die to cool before it opens.

In diecasting, a person has to run in conjunction with the machine. It's kind of like running track. If a person doesn't get in sink with the hurdles, he trips. So, it's crucial to be in sink. So, when a machine is running, things are always happening around them. The dipper is dipping into the metal, it goes to the shot tube. it pours, and then it's injected. This takes a variance of about 30 to 40 seconds.

If the metal gets cold, it has to be recycled. If it has to be recycled, the die has a chance of cooling, and a cold die means stuck part as molten metal likes to really stick to a cold die which the spray has evaporated off.

The reason I'm describing this is it takes time to learn to become a part of the machine. For some people, mostly women, it's really easy as they seem to have a natural rhythm about them. I don't know why, so don't ask me, but I've found a woman versus a man die caster will have a lot less down time.

Am I off track...oh hell yeah, total derailment baby! But, here's the next and best part.

On nights where I have a new employee in diecasting, I usually put them with someone who kinda knows what they're doing and is patient. Most of the time, things are running smoothly, and the lead people have time to train.

The night in question, I had 3 lead people and every one of them had it seemed 20 hours of work to get done in the 8 hour time spread. I also had on my "to do" list 2 people coming in to start. I took a look at the names, and one I couldn't even say and the other was a name of someone whose daddy worked here.

When the horn sounded to start the shift, I went from the office to the break room to basicly give a pep talk to the employees. This was also the time I took roll.

I went to the break room and basicly told the guys, "Hey, here's the parts we need. Try not to break the machines as the lead people are going to be busy. And, go out and be careful. Now, say here when your name's called."

I went through the roll call and everyone was there. They left the break room and we were off on another exciting, fun filled, adventure of a night. I looked over the room and saw my new guys. The guy whose name I recognized, I took a look at and instantly knew he'd work out as he looked like his daddy and his hands looked like they were used to working. I made a mental note to put him with Nate because Nate was the personality type who could explain things to someone who worked with their hands.

The other guy...well, what can I say, he was fucking drop dead georgeous. His eyes were blue like the sea and his skin was like a deep dark tan my daddy had after a summer of farming. His build was slight and he was probably 5 ft 7 inches tall. His hair was jet black to the point it was almost blue. His facial feature chiseled and lips really full.

Me, I'm staring at the kid and both of them are waitting on me to get them started and I'm just staring and throwing wood. Call me a horndog on point, but that's what I felt like when I realized I was still staring.

I took a look at the clock and hoped I hadn't been standing there 20 minutes. I looked up and the expectant looks on their faces were still there and hadn't yet gone to bored.

I said, "Guys come on with me, and I'll show you where I need you. They got up and followed me and I took them to get hard hats, ear plugs, and toe shield. Yup, safety first.

After the safety briefing of telling them to "don't stick anything where it shouldn't and it won't be chopped off...", we were off to see the wizard. I took them into the diecast area and to say it's noisy, smokey, and just plain smells of burning hydraulic fluid is an understatement. It's not healthy to breath, but it's not healthy to die from not breathing. You get used to it.

I said, "Hi" to Shirley who is one of the product inspectors and gave her a hug. I love the gal as she's just so damned friendly. Early on, when I was just starting to work here, I figured out how to get marginal parts through the inspection. Come onto the girls and get them to talking about how pretty they looked. After a while, they realized I was full of shit, but they never forgot me telling them how much of a knockout they were... yeah, I'm still gay, but if I'm going to catch hell from "psycho bitch" for marginal parts, I'm going to do what I can to stay out of her office... it worked, so sue me.

As I said, we were walking through the die casting department and I was giving them the run down of what I expected...put the parts out in the number which will help me get it out the door, and we're cool...get my ass in the can over not enough parts to the point where I have to explain to G.M. why we're jacking around, and we're not cool...

So, we get to where Nate is working and the guy is off in the zone of being in total sink with the machine. I liked Nate as he's a real nice guy. He's the type of guy who will work his tail off for you, and after work, go out and give your car an oil change. He's a real sweetheart, and if he wasn't so straight, he'd be mine...but, just as much as he works, so does the dick because the tribe he has at home is enough to keep him married for fear of child support. He had so many he went through the alphabet and then went to the vowels for a, e, i, o, and a u. Not really, but I couldn't learn all their names.

Yes, that's another thing. Being single, and being friendly, and I guess being the boss, everyone wanted me over to their house for the latest bar-b-que and beer fest. My weekends were filled with festivities, and as a side benefit, the plant gave me access to the skybox at the ball stadiums...and concert amphitheater. So, I was popular...me single, and 11 other seats...go figure.

I told Nate I had a present for him and he nodded towards Bobby Daniels son of Robert Daniels. They hit it off and I was off to the races to find Amir a place to work.

We made the loop of machines and as we walked, I looked at Amir an awful lot while walking. Fortunately, I never walked out in front of any speeding tow motors, but you get the picture...my mind was on the kid and not on the job.

As I said, I did the loop and no other machine in the place had an opening. The leads were working, so it was my hope I could find him a machine later.

I motioned for him to follow me and we went over to the shipping area to see what parts were ready to be shipped. I checked the inspection slips and things looked good.

The whole time I walked and did my job, I spoke with Amir. He had a hard time hearing me as the ear plugs were in his ears. I used them, but I used them with them hanging off my hat...and not in my ears where they were supposed to be. It made hearing a lot easier... huh!...can't hear ya!

When we were done in shipping, I had gotten Amir's whole life story. He was an Iraqi refugee fresh from the gulf war and there was a death warrant on his head because he put down his rifle. So, going home to Saddam's eden wasn't a choice.

What I do know, is he was knockout drop dead georgeus. Oh..I said that before...

Well, as he spoke, his voice was like a soft tinkling in my ears. Kind of melodic like the mobile in my crib when I was a baby... His laugh was sweet enough to make me want to crack every joke in my reportoire so I could keep him laughing.

I don't know what else we did, but by the time we got back to the supervisor's office which I shared with the inspectors, Shirley had made her rounds. I went in and motioned for Amir to sit and then sat behind the desk. Shirley gave me a look and said, "Randy, you've got it bad hon!"

I looked at her like "WTF woman!" and she just laughed. She saw me eyeing the kid and he was sitting there prettier than Brad Pitt in the buff. Get the picture! I knew you would

O.k... I looked at the clock and said, "Amir, where in the city do you live?"

He said, "I live in an apartment with my brother, cousin, and a bunch of other refugees."

I thought to myself...if these guys all look as hot as you, it has to be a veritable stud factory...but, kept on asking questions.

I said, "Isn't that a lot of people in one apartment?"

He smiled and said, "well, it's better than sleeping in the desert under three feet of sand."

I nodded and said, "Well, you got a point!"

He smiled and I said, "You got a girl?"

He paused and as soon as he paused, I knew... He said, "Ummm, how do I say?"

I smiled and couldn't help myself...I looked over and Shirley is just smiling as big as me watching me hit a jackpot.

He said, "Girls are not in my future."

Jackpot!

I said, "So, you got a fella then?"

Shirley cackled and I swear she went to the other room to lay the egg.

He said, "To be accurate, ummm, no."

I said, "You want a man?"

Now, this is when Shirley really started laughing.

I looked at Amir and said, "Don't mind her, it's the nitrous oxide."

She really let loose and I said, "You'll get used to her. She's addicted to the stuff...I made a looping motion around my ear and he laughed.

I said, "See, you laugh too."

He said, "Ohh Randy, you're pulling my leg."

I said, "Oh Amir, If I was pulling your leg, I'd be out of here."

Shirley really was laughing by now and she came in teary eyed. She said, "Randy, you've got to stop it hon."

I looked at her and said, "What did I do? I'm just sitting here having a conversation with Amir!"

She smiled and said, "You are too cute."

I looked at Amir and said, "See, she thinks I'm cute!"

He said, "You should ask her out."

I said, "Amir, women aren't in my future."

And...as quick as a whip, he said, "How about a man!"

I looked at him and said, "Well, I don't have one, why are you offering?"

He gave a look like a deer in the headlights and I said, "I'm sorry Amir, I shouldn't have asked that."

Shirley stopped laughing and gave me a stare like she was pissed at me. She said, "Amir, let's go to the break room. It's time for our break. While we're gone, Randy can go back to the 'where the fuck's your head school' and pull it out of his ass because that last question shouldn't have been asked.

She ushered Amir out of the office and I sat there kicking myself in the ass. Three minutes later, she came back in the office with a cup of coffee and said, "Randy, of all the stupid ass questions! You want your ass out of here on the next bus? You know better than do that on company time. I like you and I'd prefer to keep you around, but not with those stupid questions being asked. Fortunately, that kid's probably never heard of sexual harrassment. And fortunately, you might have a shot with him...but, unfortunately, you're not going to do it here. Got it!"

I looked at her and said, "Yes mom!"

She smiled and said, "I'm not your mama!"

I said, "Yeah, my mama's not a knockout like you babe."

She smiled and said, "Randy, for me to hear that, it's one thing. For that kid to hear it, is another thing. One of us might see some action and it's not me. Cool it."

She made to leave the room and said, "Let me ask the kid some questions. IF there's a possibility, I'll let you know. If not, then at least you can look. Hell, the way you look at that kid is like me and my man. Just as soon as I saw that look, I thought, 'Damn, he has it bad...and boy is that kid a hot one!'"

I said, "He is that..."

She cackled and left the room.

I got up, put my hard hat on, and went to walk around die cast. It was break time and I wanted to make sure we had die heat on and people to relieve others. If there weren't, I'd do some casting until break was over.

I got to a machine and saw Sherri my favorite lead person. She's a lesbian and called me on the carpet worse than Shirley. I loved her and she knew it. She has a wife and together they have two dogs which are beautiful. For hobbies, they did woodworking at home and stained glass. For Christmas, I got beautiful stained glass wall hangings.

Ok...another derailment. I went over to Sherri and gave her a hug. She smiled at me and said, "I saw you and your shadow earlier. Your eyes told me the story. Now give me the rest of it."

I said, "Sherri, the kid's georgeous."

She laughed and said, "Randy, you're georgeous. Those small guys aren't my type."

I said, "You have a type of man!"

She laughed and said, "Yeah, my man has boobs!"

We laughed and she said, "Randy, his cousin works back in melting, so be careful."

I thought for a second and realized the only guy it could be was a guy I didn't care for who had a chronic bad attitude. He didn't speak to me and his driving abilities on a tow motor nearly ran people down. His pouring abilities of molten metal nearly had people burned to death. Him being an Iraqi refugee told me volumes. He wasn't skilled for the job, but he was trying...as much as I didn't like him, I gave him an A for effort."

She looked at me thinking and said, "Randy, before you go off into giving him too much credit, the guy's still an asshole. It's just surprising he's got that kid living at the apartment with him. I bet that kid gets walked on more than the carpet in the Arch."

I said, "Sherri, the kid hits me in the heart and it's a shame he's related to someone like that."

She nodded and said, "Randy, the kid acts like he's abused. He speaks and his cousin barks at him and the kid flinches. Go easy on him."

I said, "Sherri, that pisses me off."

She said, "Yeah, but what can we do? Their heritage says family before honor."

I said, "You act like you know them."

She said, "No, I just know more than I care to admit about the men of that region."

I looked at her and her eyes looked sad. I gave her a hug and she smiled.

She said, "Don't get your heart too caught up. You'll get hurt."

I said, "Sherri, my heart was speared as soon as I saw him...talkin to him, I was drawn in more...and now, you tell me this shit."

She smiled and said, "You have it like I had it...once."

My eyebrows arched and she said, "Some day, when you're over and my wife isn't home, I'll get out the photo albums. There was one man who could have made me happy."

Her eyes looked sad again and I said in a lighter tone of voice..."Well babe, there's always me!"

She laughed and said, "Making love to you would be comic relief. Both of us would just point and laugh."

I said, "Oh yeah, make a guy feel hung."

She laughed harder and I said, "Hon, I gotta go out and make like I give a fuck."

She said, "You do hon."

I said, "I know, but if I get too serious, production slips...so I'll be the joker until I can get the part out the door."

She said, "Well, you'll stay a joker then because with the junk we're running, there's always going to be a machine down."

I nodded as what she said was entirely true.

I was just leaving the machine she was running when Amir caught back up with me. His ear buds were hanging like mine and he smiled real big.

I said, "Amir, I'm sorry."

He smiled again and said, "Randy, nothing to be sorry for...you asked a question and I didn't get to answer. In answer to your question, I'd like to see you more away from here."

Call it fireworks, but my rocket went off and I'm guessing the smile on my face revealed my happiness to him. He smiled and said, "Randy, it will be hard as I have to have permission from my brother."

I looked at him and said, "What's your brother like?"

He said, "My brother is nice, but he's influence too much by my cousin."

I said, "And, I don't like your cousin."

He looked downcast and said, "I don't either. He's mean."

I said, "Does he do anything to you? Because if he does, he doesn't anymore."

He looked at me and said, "No, he's not like that...its that he expects too much payment for things. He buys the groceries and charges us double what he paid. He pays the rent and charges us each that much each."

I looked at him and said, "Why the fuck are you staying there?"

He looked down again and said, "Because I owe him my freedom. Without him, I wouldn't be here."

I said, "He's sponsoring you in return for the slavery!"

He said, "It's not slavery, but it costs a lot."

I said, "Amir, let me be your sponsor and you won't have to pay him."

He smiled and said, "I'm not sure that would work. We have to be related according to the rules."

I thought, damn, he has him by the short and curlies.

I said, "Amir, let me think about things and I'll do what I can. Let's walk around here and I'll show you everything about why I love this place.

We walked around and I showed him my version of a real tour through die casting. I showed him the alarm panels and the lights which flash if the air tank gets water. I showed him the fire and safety sprinklers and then I heard a word which spreads fear in this place, "FIRE!!!"

True to form, Amir's cousin, Hasad, had overflowed a metal pot and the metal running onto a floor covered with hydraulic fluid caught fire. It wasn't big, but it spread fast. It was smokey, and people tended to run from fire. Me, I do the opposite. I ran to get a hose and took it towards the fire.

Right beside me, was Amir. He yelled, "You can't mix water with oil, it will spread!"

I said, "Amir, let me show you a trick. In fires like this...it's hydraulic fluid. Yeah, water will spread an oil fire, but fire is made up of three things, oxygen, combustable, and the heat. Take one away from it and it's no longer a fire. Watch this." I took the water hose and turned it on and made it a real fine spray. The spray going over the flames knocked them down. When the mist hit the metal, it cooled it and made it back to being a solid. It was hot, but it sure wasn't hot enough to promote a fire anymore.

Amir looked amazed and Hasad looked pissed. He yelled at Amir and Amir flinched. I turned to Hasad and said, "You dumb motherfucker. He's not the one getting yelled at here. YOU are. IF YOU had taken your time, YOU wouldn't have spilled the metal. YOU caused the fire. Now clean it up! Amir, come with me. He has a job to do."

Amir came with me and I heard a torrent of farsi in the background. Amir smiled and said, "Randy, he's more than pissed at you. He's cursing your mama!"

I laughed and said, "Well, right now, I'd love to be able to speak farsi so I could go back and give him an ass chewing in it!"

He laughed that giggle of his and we went to the oil filter machine which made the bottom plates of oil filters. If you take a look at the bottom of an oil filter for your car and see the part which gets screwed onto your car, you'll see the part I'm referring to. Chances are, we made it.

The thing about this machine is it's tempermental as hell. Heck, if it were a person, I'd not say it was tempermental, but mental. We call this machine and the other one like it the "Bitch Sisters". They're that hard to deal with.

True to form, the die was clogged again and one of the little holes wasn't going all the way through. It left flash. Flash is a real super thin film of metal which has to be trimmed off. The problem with scrap in this business is flash. It's thin and it's filmy which doesn't remelt well. A chunk of metal will heat through, but flash is so light, the heat in the furnace keeps it up in the air rather than down in the pot where it gets enough to melt it. So, boys and girls, flash is bad. It costs a company dollars. When there's enough dollars, those dollars would pay eveyrone's salaries reading this... Flash is bad.

Now some of you probably have me figure out. I'm a decent looking guy who has a heart bigger than he is. Hell, if my heart were bigger, I'd have to be bigger...but, I'm not, so it can only be so big. Does that mean I have ego. Nope...because in the lottery of life, some of us get looks, others get brains...that's why Bill Gates and Warren Buffet look like they do and I look good...hahaha.

Getting on with the show, I showed Amir how to adjust the core on the machine so it wouldn't make flash. Now, I'll explain a core to you all.

Take your average little pill bottle...probably not a good example as it's plastic, but it'll do... now on a pill bottle you have two dies. The inside of the pill bottle, you have a die with a core that juts out and becomes the inside. It will retract back into the die. Throw snow on your pecker guys and you'll see how it goes back in. That's the way a core retracts.

Now on the other side of the die, the back side you'd have two cores...an upper core and a lower core. Both come together and the halves make a whole which looks like a hole the depth of the pill bottle. When the part has been cast, they'll spread, and ejector pins will push the part off the die...kind of like a tube of chapstick pushes the gunk inside out of it.

Well, the core when not adjusted right, doesn't go far enough in. The metal floating around as a liquid goes into any void and there's where flash comes from. Oh well, by the end of this story, I'll have you a die caster yet, and then you can make some good money. No Wendy's drive thru money made here!...good cash! haha

As I worked showing Amir the ways to adjust a core, he looked over my shoulder. Him pressing up against my ass just felt good. I looked over my shoulder and he looked right into my eyes. His lips were next to mine and I said, "You feel good."

He smiled and said, "You do too Randy!"

I said, "Well, stick with me and I'll show you how this is done."

He smiled and looked contentedly at the die. I showed him the core and then showed him how to adjust it. Usually, when a core is sticking, it's a little piece of flash causing it to stick. Heat the die with a blow torch and it melts and voila', the problem's gone!" Then all you have to do is take some bees wax and rub the die down with it and you're back to making parts.

In this instance, I saw it was a piece of flash and had Amir look at it too. I wanted him to see it, know it, feel it, and touch it, so he'd know it if he ever needed to get a piece out. He looked at it and was amazed how such a tiny speck of metal could cause so much waste. I nodded and then lit up a torch. I had him stand in front of me and together, I showed him how to melt out the flash.

Me being up behind him, I could feel myself against his ass and popped a boner in a heartbeat.

Amir rubbed back against me and turned and smiled. I said, "You feel damned good."

He sounded breathless and said, "You do to."

I said, "Aim the candle (torch) at it and it will melt out. He did and in but a second, it was gone in the smallest of fractions of a drip.

I showed him how to turn the torch off, and then hung it up to the side of the machine. I then rubbed the die down with wax and restarted the shot cycle.

Now, the most crucial point of casting is when the die begins it's cycle. If the die is too cold, it will hang a part. Being an automated machine, the die closing on a hung part will damage the die as it's closing against something being where it shouldn't. That's what emergency stop buttons are for. It gets things shut down now, and saves a $150,000 die. Yup, they cost a lot...keep them nice and they're money makers!

So, we stood back and watched the machine cycle. As the parts came off, we inspected the parts and saw there was no flash. Amir was impressed and I said, "don't tell anyone, but my jobs easy!"

He laughed that delightful giggle and said "Don't worry Randy, your secret's safe with me."

I smiled and he said, "I'm glad you're my boss."

I said, "Well, I'm glad I met you."

He smiled and gave a pained expression and said, "Randy, where's the bathroom?"

I said, "Go to the locker room and then go on through it, you'll see the urinals there."

He took off at a trot and Nate came over and had Bobby with him. He said, "Randy, I was going to get that after break."

I said, "well, I needed to teach Amir something in order to say he earned the money, so at least if nothing else, we've got him able to do this!"

Nate laughed and said, "Well, with this machine, he'll have a full time job!"

I nodded and looked at Bobby. I said, "How you liking it?"

He smiled and said, "My dad said it was a piece of cake. I'm liking it well."

I said, "It's a good living Bobby. You just have to respect it and it'll keep you fed."

I winked at Nate and said, "Some of us make babies like we make parts, so we have to earn a lot!"

Nate laughed and said, "Well, a least we don't have to worry about another, she says after this one, she's getting her tubes tied!"

I said, "Well, wonders never cease, what you naming this one, exclaimation point!"

He laughed and said, "Nah, we saved the best for last, we're naming this one Randy. Then everyone who's older can call him 'asshole' because he's the little-ist!"

I said, "Oh you!"

He laughed and said, "What are you doing this weekend?"

I said, "Well, a Cards game and then nothing much. Why?"

He said, "If you want, you could drop by the house and we'd burn some steaks."

I said, "That sounds good. How many are coming?"

He said, "None that I think of except Lori, the kids, me and dad."

I said, "SO, I'll bring the beef and you bring the kids...oh yeah, it's your house!"

I turned to Bobby and said, "One time I had him over and told him to bring the cow...he brought his wife. I still had to go to the store."

Bobby busted out laughing and Nate smirked and said, "I'm going to tell Lori you said that...she'll be nice enough to send you a carload of kids home for the week."

I said, "Oh no, don't do me any favors dude, you should have invested in latex."

Nate busted out laughing and said, "Now you tell me!"

I laughed and they took off to their machine. Amir came trotting back and said, "What now?"

I said, "This weekend, how about us going to a ball game and then to Nates for a cookout. It's beef, so there's no problem there."

He smiled and said, "In order to go out with you, I'll have to have you meet my brother. Can you meet him on Friday night?"

I said, "Yeah, where at?"

He said, "There's a pool hall we go to which Hasad doesn't like going to. We go there every Friday night so we can play pool. That would be a good time to meet him and seek his approval."

I said, "O.k., what time?"

He said, "Well, we always go there about 6 pm as his girlfriend meets us there."

I said, "Your brother knows your gay?"

He nodded and said, "I told him before we come to America. He said he doesn't mind. He said he'd mind if our parents were over here, but sadly, they're not.

I said, "Why'd they stay?"

He paused and said quietly, "Them leaving would have caused many to die. Because they stay, others live."

I thought to myself. They loved their kids enough to set them free. They loved others enough to stay in hell...man, what a sacrifice.

He said, "When I choose someone, I'm giving myself to them for life. When you speak with my brother, he will expect to hear that. If you don't want me that long, tell him and we won't talk about it further."

I looked at him and instantly my decision was made. I could see myself loving him now. I could see loving him when we were eighty and I could see the love would be shared.

I smiled and said, "If we date, how long will I have to see you living there and have someone being cruel to you?"

He looked down and said, "We have no other choice. When I am a citizen, I can go where I please, but not now."

I said, "Let me see what I can do. I bet I can work something out." I thought for a second and said, "Let's go to break."

He smiled and said, "You give me a lot of breaks but no work."

I looked at him sternly and said, "The whole time we've been together tonight, you've been at work. You're doing the job of supervisor. I told you we don't work!"

He laughed and said, "Randy, you are smart and you love your job. With you, I can see it's fun. You make it seem easy."

I said, "You're probably right. Without laughter, I'd soon grow bored and without happiness, I'd be in hell. Fortunately, I can have both here."

He quickly said, "Me too Randy. I like it here. It's when I go home it is not fun."

I said, "We'll get that changed."

We went to break and Amir sat with me and I shared my lunch with him and he did his with me. We chatted animatedly and had a good time. Things changed when his cousin came into the room. Amir suddenly became quiet and withdrawn.

Hasad sat down and then placed his arms across his chest. I saw his face and it was a face that became distorted with anger. He slammed his fist down on the table and said something in arabic to Amir. Amir looked down and then went over to the table and sat with Hasad.

Hasad said something else and Amir went over to the refrigerator and took a container out and then to the microwave and heated it up. When it was done, he brought the container over to Hasad who took a bite of it and then spat into it.

My anger was boiling by this time and I went over to Hasad. I looked at him and said, "Amir, your break is over. Hasad, you'll be in my office when your break is done. Do you understand me?"

He looked at me and I said, "Your behavior in this room at this moment has me on the verge of firing you. You do not ever BULLY another employee in my presence. I can do something about that, and I can have you fired union or no union on those merits. If you think I'll hesitate, then try me because after seeing the stunt you just pulled, it would make my day. If think I don't have grounds, look up 'hostile work environment', or have your lawyer do so. He'll tell you the same thing I'm about to in my office."

I looked at Amir and said, "Come on Amir, we've got work to do."

Hasad said something in Farsi, and I came back into the room. I said, "Your life depends on you speaking in English in this work place. You ever yell 'fire', or 'I'm on fire' in Farsi in here, another motherfucker won't help you. My suggestion is you not use it to bully Amir in my presence because I'll definitely have your ass out of here."

He smiled and said, "When I go, Amir goes."

I said, "When you go, you'll go in handcuffs. Amir didn't violate the law, but you have."

Hasad looked at me and said, "You won't get permission."

I said, "I've figured a way it can be gotten."

He sneered and I said, "Hasad, when you come to my office, bring everything from your locker with you."

I walked out of the room and was so pissed I told Amir, go to the restroom, I've got to have a few moments in my office."

I went into the office and saw Shirley. She said, "Ooh, you're pissed. What's wrong?"

I told her and said, "Shirley, when Hasad comes in, I'm going to have my tape recorder running. He'll be lucky if he's still employed when he's through in here."

She said, "Randy, you put him out and he'll take Amir with him."

I said, "Shirley, I'm working on Amir's situation. I have to speak with the G.M. in the morning before I can tell Amir what I would like to do."

She said, "Randy, when Hasad comes in, my suggestion is to lay out the laws of our country to him and lay out workplace ethics. You tell him what goes on in his home isn't accepted at the workplace and if he insists on doing such, to not come back. Then, the decision is made for you. If he comes back, then you'll expect ethical treatment from him towards yourself and every employee in this place...not just Amir."

Amir entered the office and I said, "Amir, do you remember how I showed you to check the oil filter machine?"

He nodded.

I said, "Would you go check it and if there's any flash, do what I showed you? If you have any problems, then come back but I need to lay a few things out to Hasad."

He said, "Randy, he threatened to kill you in the breakroom!"

I said, "Amir, both of us spoke in anger in the breakroom. I assure you that Hasad isn't big enough or bad enough to even begin to be a threat to me."

Amir said, "If he says anything, you tell him one word and it's .........." He then told me phoenetically how to say it.

I said, "What does it mean?"

Amir said, "Do you want to know the truth?"

I said, "Amir, I can't be spouting words I don't know the meaning of and have him sue the company."

Amir smiled and said, "It means how do you say.....when a man has sex with a donkey?"

I said, "Bestiality?"

He said, "Ummm, I guess...that's what we caught him doing over in Iraq. That's why he came to America. People made fun of him over there."

I said, "Amir, people would make fun of him over here too."

Amir said, "He will know I told you, but him threatening to kill you brought me to it."

Shirley smiled and said, "Amir, whatever happens in this office, even if Hasad has to leave the building, you stay until the morning. Randy is working on something which I'll help him get through to the G.M .. Then you can go home with Randy. Your brother will have no problem as I'll go see your brother."

Amir said, "You know my brother?"

Shirley said, "I've seen you at the Pink Pussycat playing pool on Friday nights. Your brother seems to be a nice person."

Amir smiled and said, "My brother is nice. He seeks employment here, but so far, he's not called."

I said, "I'll get your brother a job here. He won't have a problem with Hasad after today either."

Amir looked at me and said, "You'll take my brother in to live with us?"

I said, "Amir, he's your brother. It's o.k. if he lives there. You are my love, but he'll be my brother in law."

Amir smiled and said, "He'll like that. He's wanted to leave there so much, but Hasad has told us if we leave, he'll have us deported."

I said, "Amir, he can't have you deported. You're a political refugee. The panel who makes those decisions would have that authority, not Hasad."

Amir said, "I thought so."

I said, "Tomorrow, Hasad is going to have problems. He'll be taken to the G.M. and he'll be given a reprimand. While he's doing that, Shirley here is going with you to the apartment and you get your brother and your belongings and bring them back here with Shirley. I'll show you my pickup and you can place all your belongings there."

Amir said, "We don't have many things."

I said, "Well, whatever you have, we'll work with, what you don't have, we will purchase. O.k.?"

Amir said, "Randy, can I get a ball cap just like yours?"

I looked at him and then took my ball cap off and threw it to him. I said, "Amir, I've got a bunch of them at home, but that one is yours now."

He smiled really huge and then put it upon his head. It was a little too big on him and tilted to the side.

I went over and showed him how to tighten it and then put it upon his head.

I said, "Run along now and go check the machine. Hasad will be here in a moment."

He left the room and Shirley said, "Randy, you are so sweet."

I said, "Shirley, you don't know it, but the kid's already gotten my heart."

She said, "I know it. I can see."

She then said, "Randy, don't use the word."

I said, "I know Shirley. There are some words which would break a man's spirit and just break them period. I'm smarter than going that low."

Hasad entered the room and I said, "Have a seat."

I said, "Hasad, both of us spoke in anger earlier and I'm going to give you the opportunity to apologize now for threatening to kill me."

He sat there like a stone.

I said, "Hasad, in your personal life, you are breaking the law. In our country, extortion, blackmail, and slavery are against the law. You came to work and broke company policy by bullying Amir. Yes, I know Amir is relation of yours, but that does not matter. He is an employee here and he will not, I repeat...will not ever be ordered to perform for you any chore, task, or whatever act you may want to call it. Do you understand me?"

He sat in silence.

I said, "Well, I'm going to say one other thing if you choose to remain silent. At 7 a.m., I'm going to go to the G.M. and I'll ask for your termination from working here. Then, I'm going to ask for the G.M. to make the phone call to the I.N.S. which states we are no longer sponsoring you. Then, you'll have 2 weeks to find another job, or you'll face their actions. Is this something you desire?"

He said, "You won't get permission."

I said, "Hasad, I've gotten his permission. He is above the age of 21. You are not his master and he is not your slave. As of 7 a.m., you won't even be his sponsor. Tell me what authority you have over him after that?"

He said, "He lives in my house. He eats my food. He is expected to perform chores."

I said, "Excuse me? From what I understand, you go out and buy $60 worth of groceries and charge each man $120. That's fraud. You then pay $350 a month for rent and charge each man that much to live there per month. And, if they don't pay it, you threaten to deport them. That's extortion and blackmail. You then have them perform the chores and you don't lift a finger. You put them to work, and you expect them to put their checks in your bank account. You then do not give them a dime and tell them to earn more next week. That's theft and that's racketeering. Do I go on? Because when I go to the prosecutor who happens to be my cousin, Hasad, I'll have enough charges thrown at you they'll gladly lock you up. But, let me explain one thing...in our state...they don't keep foreign nationals. They deport them. So, dare run and dare play this game with me and I will be the most serious fucking nightmare you've ever wished you'd never had."

"Amir is coming home with me. At 7 a.m., he and Shirley are driving to that apartment and they are getting his and his brother's possessions and they are leaving that pit. Then, they are going to ask anyone who feels the same to put their possession in with them, and put them in the vehicle too. They are coming back here and they are going to be hired where this company can sponsor their citizenship and strip you of any iota of power you think you have over them."

"You are quite welcome to think you can do something, but if you dare....if you dare, you'll be out of this country, and I swear, when I find a soldier over there, I'll have word sent to him to make your life hell. But, from what I understand Hasad, your life was hell over there already, was it not!"

"You came over here to make a fresh start. Your family did too. You made your fresh start by trying to break their spirit. Unfortunately, you didn't get it done with Amir. He fortunately trusted me enough to save his family."

"I swear, you'll get your fresh start but not at their expense. If you dare think you can do otherwise, I'll make sure not even a mule will have a thing to do with you on this planet. Got me!"

Hasad looked at me and said, "You just bought yourself death."

I said, "You just bought yourself a prison sentence." I went over to the tape recorder and said, "Shirley, would you come over here and replay the tape?"

She came over and said, "Hasad, I heard every word you said. He recorded every word he said. I'll tell you now, Randy is a fair man and he's also honest. He loves Amir and Amir loves him. You think you're powerful enough to step in front of love? You're not. You're only a selfish selfish person."

She rewound the tape and played it through. Hasad sat there and apparently listened. When it was done, Shirley shut it off.

She said, "Hasad, my suggestion is this...you go back and you go to work. You'll keep your job if you cool your temper. Randy will go to the front office, and he'll overlook all problems which happened tonight. He'll get the permission to have our company sponsor Amir, his brother, and anyone else who wants to work here and be sponsored. When you go home, I suggest you figure out a way to make your own way and pay your own bills. It's what all the rest of us do around here."

Hasad looked at Shirley and said, "It won't matter."

She said, "Why?"

He said, "Because if everyone here knows my secret, they'll all make fun of me. My life here won't be any different than it was there."

I said, "Your life will be different if you'll allow people to have their happiness too."

He said, "I was wrong."

I said, "Yes. They love you and they're willing to share their love with you, but Hasad, I love him. In order for me to love someone, I have to respect them. With what's happening now, I can't respect you."

He looked at me and said, "You'd love me?"

I said, "Hasad, anyone who is Amir's family, I'm going to love unconditionally as long as they allow us to love each other. I've pledge Amir my life. He's pledge his. All I ask is to be allowed to love him. In return, I'm going to return it to each of his family. His family becomes mine too."

Hasad said, "Randy, I give my permission. Please don't tell anyone my secret."

I said, "Hasad, what was I supposed to say? Everything I know I just forgot about you. Are you willing to start over and be my cousin in law?"

He smiled and I said, "Hasad, I've never had it, but I bet pussy is better!"

He laughed and said, "Randy, I'm like you and Amir"

I said, "Oh, in that case, you won't like pussy!"

Shirley said, "Randy, you don't know..."

Hasad came over and said, "Randy, could I ask a few favors of you?"

I said, "Hasad, sure...what is it?"

He said, "Could you start treating me like the rest of the guys?"

I said, "What do you mean?"

He said, "The rest of the guys all get to go to the ballgames with you. They also get to come to your house. You go to their house and you have fun."

I said, "Hasad, I didn't know you wanted to go to the ballgames. If you notice, all the other guys bring up going to the games with me. I tell them I'm going to a game and then they say they want to go too..you're welcome to come anytime you want. As far as coming to my house, you're welcome there even moreso than the other guys because you're Amir's family. And, it's my hope that we'll be welcome at yours. One thing you'll know with me Hasad is pork isn't something I eat even when times are bad for me. I was raised eatting it every meal as my daddy was a hog farmer. I'd not care to ever eat another bite. So, you'll always feel welcome at my house."

He smiled and said, "Randy, Thanks."

I said, "Hasad, Thanks too bud. You're going to be my favorite cousin in law!"

He laughed and said, "Will you show me where I can meet some guys?"

I said, "Hasad, I don't know. I met mine at work! But, yeah, I'll take you to a place where you'll be seen as someone who is a definite catch."

Shirley said, "Randy, I'm erasing this tape."

I nodded and Hasad and I walked out of the office with my arm around his shoulder.

We walked toward the oil filter machine and I saw Amir operating it.

He said, "Randy! Look!"

I went over and I said, "what babe?"

He said, "Randy, the reason the machine always ran like shit is this wasn't plugged in!"

I said, "How did you know?"

He said, "the instructions were in farsi!"

I laughed and said, "Well what do you know!"

He said, "This machine is cool...look at this, you all weren't using it correctly."

He pushed some buttons and suddenly, the machine was pumping out parts about 3 times as fast as it had been going. It's auto spray feature which we'd always had problems with was suddenly going a different way and it made a whole lot more sense when I saw how it was supposed to run.

I said, "Babe, there's another machine down the way there that's a sister to this one, would you read me the instructions on it too?"

He stopped and looked at Hasad and Hasad said, "Amir, I'm sorry."

Amir said, "Hasad, all we wanted was to be over here and be free. You didn't make freedom worth it."

Hasad said, "It's worth it now. You have my permission and you'll have Randy."

I said, "Amir, after today, things are going to be totally different with Hasad. You're going to forget the past and I am too. In return, Hasad is going to be a different person too."

Amir looked at Hasad and I could see the distrust. He said "Hasad?"

Hasad came over and hugged Amir. The tears were streaming down his face and he said, "Amir, I'm like you. I'm happy for you. I want you to be happy."

Amir said, "Hasad, I want you happy too, but you've been so unhappy. You've not been yourself."

I broke in and said, "Guys, give each other a chance and start over."

They nodded and I said, "Hasad, do I have permission to go to the apartment in the morning?"

He nodded and I said, "We'll be there about 9 am. When you get home, please tell Amir's brother we'll be arriving and he'll be going with us. If others want to go, they may. I'd really like to have you all working here and it will be possible. There's plenty of job openings and you all are really great about showing for work. I won't have a hard time asking the boss to get you all on."

Hasad said, "I've been so unhappy and selfish, I've not been allowing them to come to work here. They will all want to work here."

I said, "Hasad, what is in the past is in the past. I forgive you. Do you forgive him Amir?"

Amir came over and hugged him and said, "Hasad, Randy is smart. What is in the past is now in the past."

Hasad said, "Randy, I'll tell them all when I get home."

I nodded and said, "Hasad, the machines probably need metal. Now, I'm going to ask another question and you be really honest."

He looked at me and I said, "Do you need glasses Hasad? Because I noticed you squinting and the metal being overflowed also tells me that might be a problem."

Hasad said, "Randy, I don't know. I've noticed I've been having a problem and maybe that's it."

I said, "Hasad, eye glasses are on our plan, so why don't you go get checked. It's not going to cost you anything, so do yourself a favor. O.k.?"

He nodded and then took off down the runway.

Amir said, "Randy, he's like a different person."

I said, "Amir, he is...that's why we're forgetting the past."

I put my arm around Amir and we went down to the sister machine. In about 20 minutes, he had it running like a champ too."

I said, "Amir, I'm going to ask that you be placed into training to be a lead and learn to work on the machines. You've already demonstrated you've the capacity to learn and you've already increased our production on the two highest grossing machines in this place, so I think the G.M. will be all to happy to arrange it."

Amir said, "I'll get to work with you more!"

I said, "Amir, I'll do all I can, but I think it will be possible."

At 7am, I was in at the G.M.'s office. I saw he was in and knocked on the door frame.

He was reading the Wall Street Journal and sipping coffee. He nodded and I entered.

I said, "Dave, I've got good news and I've got better news...and then I've got great news...which do you want to hear first?"

Dave smiled and said, "Let's see...tell me the one that's going to make me money first."

I said, "O.k., the bitch sisters are now working the way they're supposed to run."

Dave said, "How the hell did that happen?"

I said, "Someone in their infinite wisdom gave me a new employee last night that could read the instructions. They were in farsi."

Dave said, "What the fuck!"

I said, "Yeah, now the machine is running at full speed and pumping out parts like at a rate that's going to make you cream your drawers."

He smiled real big and said, "O.k., you've got my attention, let's go for the next."

I said, "The next one is a favor I need of you which will benefit the plant over the long run."

He said, "O.k., tell me about it."

I said, "Hasad in the melting department. He's Iraqi."

Dave nodded and said, "O.k., I know that."

I said, "Well, did you know he has like 10 people all living with him who all need jobs!"

He said, "O.k., I didn't know that."

I said, "Well, their work ethic and their attentiveness to detail is real good. They need jobs and we have the arrangement for the I.N.S. to sponsor them, so would you be willing to sponsor them if we can get them all working here?"

Dave said, "Randy, do you have the openings back there?"

I said, "Dave, we have need for 8 people on our shift. Now with those people, I'm going to also tell you the production will go up, so we'll need one in packing and one in shipping. So, I can get them placement, and I think it will benefit the company because the parts will go out the door."

Dave said, "O.k., get the applications and I'll get them on." He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together on top of his head and said, "The last thing...shoot it to me..."

I said, "Dave, I'm going to tell you something but I'm going to need you to promise not to come around the desk and punch me in the mouth."

Dave looked serious and said, "O.k., you've made my day, I'll forgive you one thing...what is it?"

I said, "I've found someone and I'm in love. The problem is they're an employee here. The person whom is the person who fixed the bitch sisters, is that person."

Dave looked at me like I've grown two heads.

He said, "Jesus Christ Randy! Are you telling me what I'm thinking your telling me?"

I said, "Well, I did find him on the job, but Dave, it was all purely honest and it just happened. We've not done anything here that I'm ashamed of, but he is moving in with me later today."

He laughed out loud and said, "Wow! You work fast!"

I said, "Dave, wait until you meet him. I fell for him instantly. I just knew and it's been great. Now, I need to ask you something else."

Dave said, "Well, let me respond to this one first Randy. First of all, I'm happy you've found someone. That' the biggest thing. The second thing is I'm not happy about the finding him at work, but I'll over look it as I understand...sometimes we can't help where things happen. I met Jennifer in the lobby of the hospital when my wife was giving birth to my son. So I defintely know it wasn't the best time in the world to fall in love."

He said, "So, what's the last thing?"

I said, "Well, this is going to be a real big one, but I want to explain things first."

Dave said, "Randy if it's about domestic partner benefits, that's coming next year, I wanted it this year, but the insurance company wouldn't let us have it."

I said, "No, Dave, dammit, it's not that...What I want to ask you is if I can have Amir as a lead so he can be a mechanic on the bitch sisters. He's already improved the production by about 66% and he knows how to read farsi and he's just naturally gifted with mechanical things."

Dave paused and said, "O.k., I'm going to ask a question and I want an honest answer."

I said, "O.k., shoot."

He said, "Say we hire all these people. And say, you and this Amir get into a huge fight and split up...and say, his family aren't so pissed they all up and quit on our asses, can you work with him day in and day out without it affecting yours or his jobs?"

I said, "Dave...to answer your question, I'm going to explain something to you. In their country, it's really 'til death do us part. Their honor is above their own personal happiness. So, with that said, even should we argue...which I think we won't...even if it happens, I think our pledge of loyalty until death is going to bind us into staying together. Now, with that said, I'm going to tell you now. He's skilled and he's talented and he's someone even if I didn't love him, I'd still be able to work with, so on those merits, I'd say I could do it."

Dave said, "Wow. you just answered that question the best I think I've ever heard anyone answer it."

I said, "Dave, can I do this?"

Dave smiled and said, "Yeah, but I want him to be at our house with you on Friday night."

I said, "O.k., that's a can do...it will fill the weekend, but you picked the night that just came open!"

Dave laughed and said, "You'll find that with an even bigger family, you'll have to juggle things like that more than ever."

I said, "Dave, one other thing."

He said, "Shoot..."

I said, "Baseball and Football, why the hell don't we have a hockey skybox?"

He said, "Randy, if you want one, I'll get it, but have you seen the Blues play?"

I said, "Dave, you're asking a gay man if I mind watching other men slip and slide and throw each other up against walls in huge embraces!"

He busted out laughing and said, "Well, if I were watching it for that, I'd be at every game...and wouldn't mind a lost game...because who the hell would care?"

I said, "Dave, you know you're the greatest don't you?"

He said, "Randy, I'm going to tell you something. There was a time when the psycho bitch had your job that I hated coming to work in the morning. Because I hated to come to work, my homelife sucked because everyone saw the way the negative shit was affecting my life.

Then one day, you walked into my office with a tape recorder and changed all that. Suddenly, the sky was blue and this place started making a profit. Then, I got used to coming in and having our talks and seeing the way you love this place. It affected my work and it affected my life and then not too long ago, I woke up in the morning after making great love with Jennifer and I said, 'Damn, my life is good!' and you know why?"

I said, "Love"

He said, "A part of it is that answer, but it's because of you. You affected me that way. You suddenly made things change and you started a snowball avalanche of happiness in this place.

You probably don't know it, but I'll tell ya that this place was hemmhoraging money like an open window at a bank in a tornado. We threw all we could at it financially with incentives and still production was way under what the bills could be paid. What I was looking at was bankruptcy in a manner that would have had 600 people unemployed.

Yes, Love is in that equation because you came about. You love the job. You love these people. They've responded and I've responded. Production responded. And life became better. SO, when I give you a skybox at a concert...or I give you a skybox at a game...I do it because I never had anyone who did a thing like you've done in my life Randy.

Hell yeah, I'll tell you I love you, and I'm sure my wife will tell you she does too. Hell, you walk out in that plant and I bet you everyone you've interacted with will state they love you. You're just that good of a person.

So, son, when you tell me I'm great. You turn it around on yourself because I'm a piece of clay you brought about as being your product...O.k.?"

By this time, I had tears in my eyes. I said, "Dave, thanks...but, we got to stop the love fest as I've got to take Amir to go get his things."

Dave said, "You mean to tell me you kept that guy waitting?"

I said, "Dave, this is my job. He's my private life outside of here. He clocked out, so he can wait a moment."

Dave said, "Randy, get him in here. I want to meet him."

I went to the outer office and said, "Amir, could you come in?"

Amir came to the door and entered. Dave smiled real big and said, "Amir, I'm glad to hear about you and Randy over there. He's asked me to hire all your family, and they're hired. He also told me he wanted you to be trained for the lead job, and that's going to happen. But what I want to tell you is a great big huge Thank you for getting the bitch sisters straightened out and running full capacity."

Amir looked at Dave and said, "Randy said you were a dynamo, but man!"

Dave busted out laughing and said, "Amir, come here."

Amir went over and Dave said, "Amir, anyone that Randy loves, I'm going to love to like a member of my family, so you just know that anything you need, you come to this office and I'll get it for you."

Amir smiled and said, "Well, season tickets to the Blackhawks wouldn't be bad!"

Dave busted out laughing and said, "Son you got it because you've just made me laugh all day."

I said, "Dave, I'll be sure to tell him what an asshole you are too."

Dave busted out laughing and said, "I'll get right on that Amir...right on that!"

On the way out of the office, I saw Dave picking up the phone and I knew Amir had his tickets. What's so funny about Amir asking for the Blackhawks tickets is Dave is a huge Blackhawk's fan. The running joke about me wanting a skybox at the Blues games is because of the rivalry of the two teams.

Without knowing it, Amir had just given Dave his introduction of us to everyone for probably the next several years. Hell yes, Dave would get those tickets, and I'm sure Dave would fly Amir up to the games with him on the company jet.

Hell, I bet he orders a skybox for up there and gets me season blues tickets!

When we walked to the back gate, I saw Hasad pulling up in his car with 4 guys. One got out and ran to Amir. He began to speak rapidly in farsi to Amir and Amir was nodding his head rapidly. He turned and they walked over to me.

The guy held out his hand and said, "Hello, My name is Dolon. I am Amir's brother. He tells me you wish to speak with me about you two becoming one for life."

I said, "Dolon, yes, I do want to speak with you about it. Is it convenient now?"

He said, "Yes, Let's sit down and speak. You look tired"

I said, "Dolon, I don't know where to begin."

Dolon said, "Begin with what is in your heart."

I said, "I love him, I need him, I want him, He makes me happy. He completes me. He's who I want for the rest of my life. His eyes set my soul on fire. His laugh makes my heart want to hear more of it, and his body awakens a passion within me that I don't know if we'll have even begun to wear out when we're in our 90's."

Dolon said, "Randy...let's keep this simple because if I dare talk too long, Amir will probably disown me. My parents made me promise to give Amir to whomever pledged they would share the rest of their life with him. You speak of being together even in your 90's, but will you give yourself until death do you part?"

I said, "Who would want to live without him? If he dies, I'll be right behind him...So, even though his death would kill me, it'd be until death do us part."

Dolon said, "Amir, come here."

Amir came over and said, "Yes, Dolon."

Dolon said, "Amir, when you told our parents you were gay, you became as a daughter to them. They had only one option and that was to kill you. Rather than do that, they looked at you as a daughter. So, you've met someone whom wants you until death. I wasn't authorized to tell you this, but I am authorized to tell Randy that our parents have an account set up as a dowry to pass along to Randy. Randy, as Amir's brother and beneficial heir of my family's wealth, I give you my brother as your wife. As your wife, you get to receive the dowry which is in a bank in New York City, Manhattan. I will write to my parents and they will forward to you the bank statements and switch account ownership."

I said, "Dolon....nonononono....hold up a minute!"

Amir looked paniced and yelled, "Randy, this will ruin everything! You can not refuse the dowry. IF you refuse the dowry, then we can't be together!"

I looked at Amir and said, "But, I don't want you for a wife. I want you for my lover!"

Amir had tears in his eyes and said, "Randy, don't ever say that again. If you say you don't want me for a wife three times, we are divorced...so, don't say it again!"

I looked at him and said, "Amir, I love you. This is confusing."

Dolon smiled and said, "Randy, that's the best thing you've said all day. I've been confused by him all my life! Now I feel as if you are really my brother...Welcome to the family!"

He hugged me and Amir smiled.

I said, "Dolon, were you told you could live with us?"

Dolon said, "Yes, but I hear you live away from the city. I love this city and want to stay here."

I said, "Dolon, were you told you would receive a job here?"

He said, "Yes, Hasad came home a changed man and said you offered us employment. He said your company would offer us our citizenship papers."

I nodded and said, "I spoke with the boss this morning and he agreed. He met Amir and welcomed him. He's welcoming you and anyone else to work here."

Dolon said, "Hasad told us and told me I had to be in the first car load as Amir had someone who wanted to meet me and give permission. He told me he gave permission too, so that means you are doubly in our family. Amir has no choice in the matter."

I said, "Well, I'm glad Amir approves then!"

Amir smiled and Dolon said to him, "Amir, your belongings are in the trunk. I'm not going to live there. Your place is now with him."

Amir took off running and Dolon said, "Randy, one thing you must promise me is when you receive the bank statement of our parents that you keep the money always. It will help you in good times and in bad. Keep it and use it wisely as my parents will not give you another cent."

I said, "Dolon, I know your family's custom, and I'll accept it even though it is not required."

Dolon scoffed at the statement and said, "Our family's honor is that we give it, so we do as a token of our heritage, dignity, and our wealth. So nothing more is to be said."

I was purplexed as I'd never expected anything like this. It wasn't something we did over here. The only thing our country had as a custom was to pay for the wedding. In some instances, that same amount of money would have been quite a sum to give as a dowry, but we paid for the wedding. So, if they cast off Amir as a daughter because he was gay, I wasn't complaining because I'd take him any way I could get him.

Amir had placed everything in the truck and I said, "Dolon, that car there is the only transportation you all have?"

Dolon nodded and I said, "Well, tonight, Amir and I will be by the apartment to give rides to work, so whomever needs a ride will have one. O.k.?"

Amir and I got in the truck and began to drive home. Usually when I drove home, I called my mom and gave her a rundown of my day at work. Today, she'd really have a surprise. I called her and told her I'd be by their house so I could introduce her to someone.

She thanked me for calling and forewarning her and said she'd be dressed and would have breakfast for us when we got there.

The problem with food at my parents was my mom cooked a lot of pork. Yes, I'll eat pork if I have to, but with Amir not eatting pork, I was afraid she'd take it personally.

I told him and he said, "Randy, for you, I'll eat pork if it makes your mother happy."

I said, "Amir, make yourself happy, and my mom will be happy. Wait until you see the house!"

He said, "You live with your parents?"

I sais, "Oh hell no. My parents live in the country. I live in town. I bought a 2 story Queen Anne Victorian that I've restored. It's got 14 rooms and 3 bedrooms. We can play tag in it and run around all day it's so big."

He smiled and said, "I know you love it, your eyes light up like they do when you talk to me."

I said, "Amir, that house isn't anything until you're there. Yes, I love it, but if it was gone tomorrow, I'd still want you there standing beside me. Oh, just wait until you meet Gypsy girl."

He said, "Who is this Gypsy?"

I said, "She's my cocker spaniel. She's real smart. She knows over 40 tricks and you'll be amazed at how she'll take to you."

He smiled and said, "I know I'm going to like her."

I said, "Well, when we get to my mom and dad's house, I'll introduce you to them and tell her you don't eat pork. She'll understand."

He smiled and said, "Randy, I know I'm going to like it there. It's our new home. Your family is now my new family too."

I had tears in my eyes and said, "Amir, thank you. You don't know it, but until today, I didn't realized how lonely I was. Now, I know but I've got you, so I feel complete."

I took his hand and said, "I love you."

Author's Notes:

I did work in a factory which did diecasting of aluminum parts for a while.

While there, I did meet a guy named Amir whom was the sweetest, and most kindest person I believe I've ever met. He was georgeous as a model and had a wonderful personality.

Unfortunately, his cousin had him in bondage as described in this story. When the cousin caught wind we were romanticly involved, the cousin moved Amir out of the state.

Most of you know I was in prison. It wasn't a nice experience. Let me just say the experience I endured wasn't anything near as bad as what we put the Iraqi prisoners of war. It took them 8 long years to get to our country and that's after they pledged loyalty. It took being located in Guam, and in the middle of the deserts in both Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia before Guam. Finally, they made it to a detainee camp in southern California before they were released into our country.

The fear of anyone American after those experiences brought about distrust. Through kindness, Amir and I overcame those obstacles. He learned there is such a thing as good Americans and he wanted to build upon that with me. The cousin used his relationship with him to break that apart.

While doing so, take a look at our own heritage at Stonewall and ask yourselves, "Would we be called infidels if we were in Iraq?" I think so. I will get off my soapbox now, so someone please hand me the fabric softener. I just want people to think.

To those of you whom have read this far, I would like to thank you for reading this story. You are always kindly encouraged to email me with your comments. I will do my utmost to always answer them as soon as possible.

From My Keyboard To Your Heart, Retta