Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 17:58:00 -0800 (PST)
From: T. Chase McPhee <survivalgame@yahoo.com>
Subject: DECEMBER tis the season to be merry 01 (DEC LULLABY continues)

You know the drill: The story below is a work of fiction, set in the format
of reality. Any resemblances to real people, alive or in the hereafter, is
entirely coincidental in nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon
persons, of continents or islands, in countries, counties, cities, towns,
villages, neighborhoods, streets, cul-de-sacs, nor governmental or
non-governmental areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene
involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then why are you here?
Seriously, if guy-to-guy sex stuff makes you barf or is going to screw up
your mind, you should not read this story. Additionally, if you are under
18 years of age, in most states and countries, you are not allowed to read
this story, by law. Check with your local laws regarding such.

% Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use
protection.

%

DECEMBER tis the season to be merry
wriTten by T. Chase McPhee

%

one

%

"What do you think?"

Kevin answers as he sits with his ass on the edge of the table, "If working
for you is this hard, I'm going to ask for a raise!"

Laughing, Rahmi sets down a vase, reaches in the temperature-controlled
fridge, removes a red rose and puts it in the small clear glass
container. Walking over to Kevin, he says, "If I hadn't known you were
already involved, I would offer this to you more romantically."

"It's okay," Kevin replies. "Nobody's ever given me a rose before. It's
cool though. Thanks." His nose taking a long drag off the scent, Kevin's
eyes widen with inhaling the fragrant breeze. "Powerful!"

Observing Rahmi's soft touch with Mike Knight, Kevin experiences it, the
soft fingers playing over the side of his face, more a gesture than
something meant as romanticizing him. "I thought you might 'like' it!"

However, Tariq shows up at the most importune time, gazing in through the
glass door from outdoors. 'Oh shit!'

Unlike with Mike, Rahmi has extended his 'thanks' with a sweet peck on the
cheek.

"Thanks," Kevin replies. But to let Rahmi know where he stands, "That's
nice and all, but if we are going to work together I think we shouldn't do
this type of stuff. Keep it professional?"

With door ajar, Tariq heard the whole thing, which instantly put his mind
at ease. Too, he sensed his brother had a good man behind him in that Kevin
didn't bend towards temptation and give in. He knew he was unobserved, so
made some racket, making like he is stumbling in through the doorway, "Did
you save any work for me to do?"

Like nothing was said or done, Rahmi sprung into action, behaving more like
a boss and handing out detailed jobs, like washing down dusty counters and
mopping the floor. On the other hand, he also set about teaching Kevin the
ins and outs of starting up a day, laying out a cash draw, making sure
flowers were 'as fresh as a daisy' and other things mandatory to a five
a.m. opening of business.

An hour later, Rahmi was marveling at the spotless cleanliness of the shop,
congratulating Tariq on the good job. The setup was one thing, but for
ongoing employment, Rahmi knew he would only be able to keep on one of
today's helpers. He figured it would be a good idea to break the news to
Tariq over lunch. "You two have worked so hard today. Let it be my treat
and we can go for lunch?"

"I'm starved," Kevin replies. "I could like eat a whole pizza!"

Tariq showed signs of hunger, but not the scale of Kevin's appetite.

So, locking the door behind them, Rahmi allowed Kevin to do the honors.

Kevin joked about his nervousness regarding his first official job as
Rahmi's assistant, "At least I know how to put the key in the door!"

So, down the sidewalk they went, the three taking in the sights and sounds
of the neighborhood.

"Pizza at three o'clock sharp!" Kevin announces, walking in between two
parked cars, waiting to cross.

But something else caught Tariq's focus. The big sign overhead caught the
initial sighting, 'Anarkali Cafe and Restaurant', but even more so the dude
at the cash register, who just happened to look up as Tariq looked inside
through the doors to the place. They locked smiles. Tariq would have passed
it up, only the third thing which caught his eye is the 'help wanted' sign
leaning against the window.

Seeing it heavensent, Rahmi spotting the same help sign, suggests, "Why
don't you go for it Tariq?"

Tariq was confused, then thought how ridiculous. Of course, Rahmi meant the
'job', not the 'guy'! He was also confused about the work he did today and
playing right into Rahmi's hands, "Working for you... was it only for today
or...."

"Only today," Rahmi grabbed the opportunity, "but I can have you do odd
jobs around the shop until you find something else?"

Fighting Rahmi, was Kevin's hunger pangs.

Thinking of the 'responsibility' thing Brendan presented to him this
morning, the eighteen year old took it upon himself, "You and Kevin go to
lunch. Maybe I will eat here."

"Whatever you say," Rahmi said with a smile, handing Tariq some loose
bills, terming them an advance on today's paycheck!

Breaking away from Emre's more reserved manner of dealing with situations,
assuming Gazi's attitude of forthrightness, Tariq takes a deep, deep
breath, expanding his teen chest and as he walks in the door, an arm plucks
the 'help wanted' sign from the window as he marches up to the desk. To the
eye-flirting dude he says, "I'm here for the job!"

Very reserved, the dude at the small register counter replies, "I know you
are!"

Just as Tariq had removed the sign from leaning towards the window pane, it
is taken out of his hand and set behind the counter.

"I am?" He asks, unbelieving he had just pulled all this off with a few
seconds of conversation, instead of a long, drawn out interview.

"You're new at school, aren't you?"

His outgoing attitude backing down, Tariq replies, "You don't look like a
high school guy?"

>From that moment on the two hit it off, Rosario Chasse taking Tariq right
back to the kitchen, filling him in on 'his' family history, the reasoning
behind him being termed the 'mutt' of the family, then immediately
face-to-face with his employer, probably the most beautiful looking
Pakistani man Tariq's ever laid eyes on!

"Oncle-Javid, this is our new waiter!" Seemingly slurring the two namesakes
together

Tariq at first wondered which part of Rosario's heritage the greeting was,
but then all of the multi-national aspects were put aside as he extended
his hand, Jean-Claude's influence, to greet Rosario's 'oncle'. What a
surprise, when Rosario's Oncle Javid put his hands on his shoulder and did
'like they do in France', welcomed him, like family, a kiss to each cheek.

"Now Oncle-Javid, let us not go overboard?"

Waving Rosario aside, Uncle Javid replies, "Shoo!" Then addressing Tariq,
"Welcome to my restaurant."

"'Your' restaurant Oncle-Javid? As I recall, it is 'my' father who owns
half of the business?"

Tariq thought all this serious, until the two began slinging tit for tat,
putting on a fake boxing match, Rosario, almost his age, batting around his
open hand, slapping his uncle about the arms, thighs, a fake slap to the
side of the face, all with intent to create a merry show for his benefit.

"You... you hooligan!" Uncle Javid accuses Rosario, "I whip your little gay
ass!"

"Oncle-Javid!" Rosario suddenly stopped.

"Oh-no-I-am-in-trouble!" his uncle exclaimed, hand over his mouth, as the
playful motion stops, middle of the scene. Standing there, he looks back
and forth between his nephew and the new employee, knowing he should not
have shot his mouth off about Rosario being 'gay'.

Tariq, immediately liking Rosario, even before he set foot into the food
establishment, but also falling prey to the kitchen shenanigans, liking his
uncle from the start, decides to put all notions asunder. Reaching out a
hand, he takes Rosario's hand in his, telling, "It is okay 'Oncle-Javid'!"

The gesture set forth by Tariq immediately sends jiggles of electrical
comfort towards Rosario, but for his uncle, "It is okay with you Rosario
and me gay?"

It was just jolly with Tariq, from the beginning, but he had no clue as to
Oncle-Javid's sexual calling until he mentioned it!

Putting it as nice as possible, Tariq asks, "Would it be okay if I am gay
and work here?"

By now the mutual understanding had already set in and the three were
playing each other up.

Though, Rosario poised his palm to his uncle's chest, when he suggests,
"Maybe we seal it with a kiss?"

"I don't think so," the nineteen year old replies, stopping his uncle in
his tracks. Then Rosario informs, "If he gets too horny Tariq, just haul
off and give him a swat!"

Rosario's uncle smiles as his nephew gives him a tender little swat aside
the cheek.

Taking it all in stride, maybe a bit of family-love encrusted in the
deliverance, Tariq smiles, seeing the closeness of the nephew-uncle
relationship. As Rosario and Tariq leave Oncle-Javid behind in the kitchen,
he turns to Rosario and innocently asks, "Between being a mutt; the French,
Italian and mid-Eastern cultures in you Rosario, how would all of these,"
and he tries his luck at utilizing a word he learned this morning in
English class, hopefully in the correct context, "infuse to bring a
greeting?" He hoped he got it right so as to produce the outcome of his
meaning.

In the hallway, the one which led to the restrooms, quite dark and shadowy,
it seemed the perfect place for a demonstration. Feeling led on, Rosario
states exactly what he's thinking, "If I didn't know much better I would
think you are coming on to me, Tariq?"

A cross between Emre and Gazi, possibly leaning more towards his older
brother's sexual antics, Tariq replies in a flirtatious manner, "Oh, I
thought it was clear when we both were checking each other out before I
even set foot in your restaurant!" Again, he hoped he was using the correct
set of words to express himself, because he 'was' trying to lead all this
somewhere!

"Hey wait!"

And at this moment, it all came together, Rosario swinging him around,
plastering his teen bod up against the wall, stopping only momentarily, the
two waiting to see if the fake Degas was going to fall off the shaking
wall, then the serious moment returning, Tariq feeling the pair of warm
lips caressing his own, in a sweet welcoming kiss!

%

Several miles across town, Brendan was coming out of the security building
at Brookdell Community College, all abuzz with his good news of the
day. However, it seemed his partner, whom he left middle campus, sitting on
a bench with the latest installment of Architectural Digest, was already
receiving a bunch of attention.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asserted himself, nicely pushing his way
into the middle of the grouping of students. He wondered who the dude was,
sitting right next to Jean-Claude.

"Oh Brendan, I'd like you to meet a very good friend of mine, Jake Klass."

'Friend?' Brendan greeted with a handshake, more or less lifting the young
dude out of his seat.

"I'm a very big fan of your partner," Jake said, as he surrendered his seat
over, almost planting Brendan onto the hardwood surface.

"Oh really?" Brendan replies, more or less asking 'in which way?'

The sixteen or so students who had congregated, much as if a famous rock
star were sitting on the bench, listened attentively as Jean-Claude turned
from the article in an old issue of Architectural Today magazine, "Yes, I
was just reading over this article on the first attempts of a 'Green house'
and who happens to walk by is Jake here."

Of course Brendan was the minority here. Maybe not as far as his
sexuality. With seven in every ten being of different gender, other than
hetero, there had to be more than he and Jean-Claude... oh but then he
realized, the hot looking college dudes were throwing him way off track,
plus the one whom he dethroned, Jean-Claude's friend, Jake Klass.

Jean-Claude half-smiled as he explained, knowing his lover wasn't paying
full attention to him, "Jake and I had a collaboration of ideas when I was
at NYU..."

It was the new-found fact which jarred Brendan's attention from youth, back
to thought, "You were at NYU?"

Even though their relationship extended back a few months, not every base
had been touched.

"Back in... what was it Jake?"

Brendan, looking to Jake for an answer thought, 'How gorgeous!'

"Uh, let's see... two years? Three at the most?"

"Right," Jean-Claude allowed the amount of time to fluctuate, "Jake and I
had presented some ideas to the board, regarding the 'Green project', which
never set too well on account of the location..."

Jake cut in, to praise, "But leave it to Jean-Claude... his idea didn't
die, it being picked up by a college in Kentucky."

Then, as when all became quiet with his butting in, the crowd kicked up,
one of the dorm-dudes saying, "Right, oh man I wish we had the dorms your
partner designed right here at Brookdell!"

It made Brendan feel great! This time it wasn't about the hot college
dude's muscled frame or the accompanying damn good looks, but instead the
calling, 'your partner'. They've been together for awhile, been through
some good and bad times in the past few months, but right now he felt
'owned' and it was a really good feeling, coming from a different
perspective in regards to someone else recognizing their relationship.

"Oh there you are babe!"

He smiled when he saw the openness of the college campus, hardly anyone
paying attention as Jake greeted what seemed to be a boyfriend, lover,
maybe partner, a tall, long-haired blond greeting him with a kiss.

"Brendan, Jean-Claude, this is my partner, Thor Johanson. He's a fine arts
major here at Brookdell."

'What a sweet guy,' Jean-Claude thought upon greeting him back, the
Scandinavian accent quite sexy in his return.

As for Brendan, the electricity had returned, him feeling the big hand of
the 'norseman'!

With the turn from an educational viewpoint, the reason students had
gathered around to meet and debate with the world-famous architect,
Jean-Claude Lomberiou, to a more personal nature, the large group turned
into a foursome, Jean-Claude offering, "How about a cup of coffee
gentlemen?"

As they strolled from midcampus to the parking facilities, Brendan made
mention of the beach house.

The telling of its location, Jake Klass informs them, "Oh yes. Thor and I
have our eyes on it ourselves!"

Not it would matter, there being dozens of prime real estate properties for
sale on the Jersey shore, but for whatever reason, possibly the thoughts of
sitting behind his computer, gazing at this one in particular, Jean-Claude
had already pictured it as his and Brendan's
'nest-egg'. "Oh... well... It's more or less sold." He further bullshitted
them, "Brendan and I are going to take one last look at it."

Knowing something was going down here, Brendan figured good reason for
Jean-Claude to say something not true, but he also sensed a good feeling,
one of trust. Figuring if his lover thought he was going to fall madly in
love with this property, he went right along, "Right. We're going to check
to make sure there's enough sand in the backyard!" It was stoopid, but the
only thing Brendan could think of on the spur-of-th-moment!

"Ahem!" Jean-Claude replies, clearing his throat and responding like
saying, 'that the best you can do,' rolling his eyes as he glances over the
middle of the car to his lover.

"Good reason," Thor replies. "I like to play in the sand."

'Oh-h-h-h-kay,' Jean-Claude thinks to himself.

Off in another direction, Brendan is thinking of how much fun it would be
to be buried in the sand by Thor and then having his manly hands dig him
up!

>From the back seat, Jake says, "Well there's plenty of other
properties. Good luck to you and yours," he extends his congratulations to
Jean-Claude.

But they went and checked the roughly five million dollar beach house out,
Brendan paying more attention to Thor than the interiors of the lovely
home.

With Thor and Jake out on the beach, Jean-Claude poses the question,
"So. What do you think Bren?"

"I'd sure like to see him shirtless!"

"Idiot!" Jean-Claude remarks, slapping Brendan in the stomach.

Breaking his attention from peering out a rear window, "Oh! You mean about
the beach house! Great. I think I would like it here."

"Yeah right," Jean-Claude is wise, but playfully adds, "and we're going to
have blinds put on all of these giant glass windows which face the beach or
else it'll feel like I'm talking to the wall!"

"Get off it J-C... I'm only looking."

But then it's Jean-Claude doing a little 'star-gazing', his attention out
the back double glass doors, "Oh now isn't that a pretty sight!"

As if the 'Oasis of the Sea' pulled up in front of their beach house, the
two stand there in awe, looking upon Thor stripping off his shirt!

%

"I have the feeling you are going to fit right in around here, Gazi?" Gregg
Ballintine says, standing next to the bed, studio B, in the heart of the
Ballintine building.

But it made Ballintine laugh out loud when out of Gazi's mouth came, "We
need to talk money!"

Seeing Gazi lying there in bed, not a stitch of clothing on, made his mouth
water. Too, he was extremely enjoying the audacity set forth by this young
lad, barely with his foot in the door of the porn movie industry. Before he
was to do any negotiating, he had to clear the air, "You're all dismissed!"

Phil Precott, the twenty-four year old theater arts major at Brookdell, who
also serves as a camerman, but stepped down from his job for a couple of
hours to 'moonlight' as a bedfellow for Gazi, seemed satisfied with having
a 'drink' on Gazi, plus feeling it 'in the can' and was ready to move on,
especially at the boss' strict command.

On the contrary, Taylor Ridgeston was hoping for some equal time in bed
with Gazi, but was distracted by Phil, "Nice couple of hours with Gazi, but
I could do with a little pampering myself about right now?"

How could Taylor turn down the hint, Phil scratching his dark pubic bush?

After the door to Studio B slammed shut, the owner of Ballintine Studios, a
man in his mid to late thirties, begins to unbutton his shirt as he says,
"Now, shall we get down to business?"

%

"Oh man am I full!" Kevin remarks, as he sits there in the booth of the
pizza place.

"As I can see," Rahmi replies, seeing Kevin stretch his arms out above his
head, his shirt tail hiking up and revealing his teen treasure trail,
seemingly 'growing' out of his deep innie.

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" Kevin asks as he smooths his shirt down over
his gut.

"Aldo and me. We hit it off for awhile, but it wasn't meant to be."

"Why not?" Kevin unashamedly replies as he picks up his Dr. Pepper and
sips.

Decisively, Rahmi says, "Because I want more than a romp in the bed
everday."

"Only sex?" Kevin boils it down to.

Seeing Kevin sees it his way, Rahmi elaborates, "It would so nice to have
someone to travel with, to enjoy going to an art museum and debating on the
aspects of an artist's choice of color or the brush stroke. It's only an
example of what I would like a man of mine to be like."

Not meant to be philosophical, Kevin renders, "What about what 'he' wants?"

"Oh sure. I'm not meaning for a relationship to be one-sided."

"So you would be okay if a guy wanted to go to a Yankees game, even if you
had no interest?"

"I suppose I would go along," Rahmi replied.

Kevin was skeptical of his answer, so thought it best to skip out on the
conversation, "I wonder what Tariq is up to?"

He went for the rectangular piece of paper lying faced down, but Rahmi beat
him to it, "This lunch is on me, considering you haven't received your
first paycheck!"

While Kevin waited outside, scouting out the street traffic, he thought it
a little strange, Rahmi coming onto him in the shop a while back, but his
challenging words about his views of a relationship. He pay it no mind as a
guy in a top-down convertible whizzed by on this un-December type of
weather day.

%

"A little chilly for sunning?" Jean-Claude says to his two 'fares' as they
lay on the beach, shirtless and their belts and pants buttons ajar.

Suddenly paying attention, Jake figits with his pants to set them right,
Thor lying there, doing something erotic with his thumbs.

It didn't go unnoticed with Brendan, him almost salivating, watching the
blond Scandinavian lying there, rubbing sand into each nip with his thumbs,
the grains of sands reflecting off the sun, all enhanced by the light
covering of blond pec covering.

"Isn't that right Bren?"

"What?"

Jean-Claude knew of the distraction, the reason for his questioning about
the view as he called Brendan's attention to it with a slight jab in the
tummy.

"Oh yeah. I think the beach house is a beautiful find and we're going to be
real happy here!" He said it like a 'proud owner'!

It wasn't hidden for Jake, knowing Brendan was checking out Thor. He
himself thought it a very strange, erotic thing, a guy firming his
pec-spots up by rubbing his thumbs over them, grinding beach sand into his
nips. "You're a lucky man, Jean-Claude," he remarks.

"I'd say we 'both' are!" he replies to Jake as they walk up the beach to
the house.

Lingering behind, Thor and Brendan have their own little conversation.

"Um, that thing with the sand and your pecs..." Brendan evokes curiosity,
as he looks upon the open shirt, Thor's hot bod visible from mid-chest to
beltline.

"Would you like to try? I will help you?" Thor openly replies as he bends
down to pick up a few granules of sand.

"Not today thanks," Brendan cordially replies. "Maybe when I'm not so
dressed up!" He tried getting himself off the hook.

The early-twenties college student replies, "I could help you out of that
shirt?"

"I'm sure you could," Brendan says with a smile.

"Jean-Claude is a lucky man."

"Oh? How's that go?" Brendan replies, even though he knows how lucky 'he'
is!

"A man who is not easily swayed."

"Yeah. I suppose. I mean, not that you aren't a man that is easy to be
swayed toward... or something like that!"

"It is what I like about Jake. He is easily swayed. It is not very easy to
find a man with interests as mine."

Brendan knew he was being led on here, but at the same time the turn of
subject matter was driving on his curiosity, as well as sexual drive. "You
mean other than having your nips massaged with sand?"

Right before they enter the beach house, joining up once again with Jake
and Jean-Claude, Thor tells, "You let me know if you want to feel something
as erotic as having a leather belt played on your back?"

"I'll keep it in mind Thor," Brendan replies. And as they enter, "After
you?"

"Of course," Thor throws hint, "the master 'always' before the slave?"

'What a lucky man', Brendan thinks of Jake, literally sucking up to Thor!

%

"There is nothing really more to do today Kevin, if you would like to take
off?" Rahmi informs him as they reenter the florist shop.

"Cool!" Kevin replies. "So you want me back at what time?"

"Eight o'clock will be enough time to get ready for business."

With slight confusion, Kevin asks, "But I was under the impression I had to
be here earlier, like five or so?"

"That was before lunch... before we had our long talk..." and with regret,
"before I found out how attached you and Tariq's brother?"

It all became clear to Kevin, "You mean you thought... I like
maybe... maybe you and me could..."

"My own fault," Rahmi replies. "Even though I have my priorities, I
sometimes allow my 'wicked side' out think what I really desire and I
forget what I'm really looking for."

Smiling, Kevin says, "And how would it make you any different than any
other single, gay man?"

In closing, wanting to close it up quickly, Rahmi replies, "Thanks for
understanding. I'll see you tomorrow at eight," he said as he unlocked the
door from the inside, then holding it for Kevin to walk through.

"Oh I forgot. What should I wear?"

It was one of those moments, one gay men share, the silence prevailing,
which signifies 'none', Rahmi quickly dismissing both their thoughts,
"Ironed white shirt, tie and dark dress pants and shoes?"

"Oh man. I better get going. I've got some shopping to do then!" Kevin
replies in a hurried fashion.

"Then I suppose I better advance you some pay?"

"Nah. I'll hit J-C up for it!" Kevin says reassuredly.

On his way out of the florist shop, Kevin realizes his ongoing dilemma - no
wheels! First thought to come to mind is meet up with Tariq, so he heads
back down Cookman Ave. and comes face to face with the sign reading,
'Arnakali Cafe & Restaurant'. "Got a table for one?" He questions the host
from behind.

Tariq knew who it was right away, "Guess what Kev? I got a job and
promotion all in one day!"

"Wait... slow down. What's this?"

"Yeah," the eighteen year old spewed forth with excitement, "I was hired as
a waiter, but when it got busy and Oncle-Javid needed Rosario to help him
out, I got promoted instantly, but I'm also a waiter!"

"Oh-h-h-kay!" Kevin replies, not sure he got the whole gist of the almost
one-breath readout. "Now, want to explain it in my terms?"

Tariq smiled, saying, "I will, but I'm busy right now." And when another
couple walks in, Tariq says, to Kevin, stuffing some menus into his chest,
"Here, show them to an empty table."

'Me?' Kevin thought, but seeing Tariq table-hopping, felt admirable helping
out his buddy, not to mention brother of the man he loved. And as he helped
out, too came back thoughts of Rahmi, him thinking of how lucky he was and
hoping his new boss would find in life what he had... even more, because
Kevin knew there was a lot more to come!

%

After delivering Jake and Thor back to their car, parked at Brookdell
Community College, the two finally had moments together-alone.

"So, what do you think?"

Jean-Claude left it open, almost knowing he was going to get a wisecrack
'Thor' response.

He was wrong, Brendan replying, "I think I could grow to like living in a
five million dollar beach house, lazing on the sand morning, noon and
night."

And since he didn't get what he was looking for, indirectly, he provoked,
"No, I meant about Thor rubbing sand into his nips?"

"Oh well, that!" Brendan replies.

But not opening another Pandora's Box, Jean-Claude side-steps it, "I'm
terrible."

"About what?" Brendan retorts, his facial expression changing remarkably.

"All this afternoon we talked about me and the beach house and I completely
overlooked the reason 'why' we were at Brookdell today?" As they sat in the
parking lot of the college, Jean-Claude smoothes it over, an arm to
Brendan's midsection, leaning over for a 'forgiving' kiss.

They were very much interrupted though by a knock on the car window,
Brendan responding, "Oh shit! Snagged!"

Indeed he was, by the official at the college whom just hired him!

"Who was that?" Jean-Claude asks, watching the figure get smaller and
smaller as he wades through the yard of cars.

"Juan Vasco? The man whom just interviewed me for the security person and
was more or less responsible for hiring me, raving about my credentials in
front of the college board?"

"Uh-oh," Jean-Claude replies, his attention re-scanning the parking lot,
seeing the pin of a figure opening a car door in the very far distance.

"I'm not worried," Brendan says, cool and calmly.

"You're not?"

"Nope. Not after he also informed the board that I'm 'related' to you?"

Playing coy, Jean-Claude replies, "Oh? Is that so? And in which respect did
Juan happen to mean it?"

It led to another tender moment, Brendan 'showing' Jean-Claude the exact
way in which his answer swayed!

%

Kevin in all intentions had decided to stop by the cafe and walk home with
Tariq in tow, but in light of the non-alleviating stream of late afternoon
diners, the time slipped into early evening. Also, by the time two hours
had passed, Kevin found himself more gravitated into the kitchen interiors,
finding manual labor more to his liking than playing host out in the front
room.

"Here.. you try!"

"Me?" Kevin questioned flipping a small sized piece of dough, similiar to a
mini-pizza. "But I've never done anything like that, Javid!" Ignoring his
protests, Javid tosses the ball of dough to Kevin, with no excuse but to
catch it.

"I bet you good with your hands Kevin!"

Not afraid to say, Kevin replies, "You're a sly bastard Javid!"

"I know," he replies, wiggling his eyebrows as he sports a hefty smile.

Kevin than recalls a couple of hours beforehand, his words to Rahmi, about
gay men in general. He had seen this only done a couple of times, in
particular when he and Rahmi sat, waiting for their pizza, Kevin watching
the pizza-dude toss the dough up and catch it on his hands, the
circumference expanding over and over. 'How tough can this little one be'?

Ten minutes later, Javid came back, still finding Kevin trying to make a
perfect circle. "Don't have it yet?"

"No... but I'll get it!" Kevin replied, as he ignored every other aspect of
the restaurant business. So intent at getting it right, practicing over and
over, Kevin had no idea Javid was checking him out everytime he flipped the
dough almost overhead, his shirt hiking up, then down, then up, each time
revealing his bare waist.

"We can go home now, Kevin!"

"Wait! I've almost got it... watch this Tariq!" Kevin said to Tariq and
Rosario, Javid nearby. He tossed the dough up in the air, but catching it,
the dough formed holes about all his fingers. "Well I almost got it!"

"You come back tomorrow for more practice," Javid says.

"Oh sorry, but tomorrow I have my first day working at the florist," Kevin
informs.

"Then you come after work and work for me!"

It was all talk, Tariq and Kevin chatting about his good fortune, landing
two jobs in one day.

"Look!"

"Cool!" Kevin said, seeing Jean-Claude's car parked in front of the
florist. The two high-tailed it down the street.

"You just get here?" Kevin asks, as he and Tariq hop in the back seat.

"No," Brendan replies. "We've been sitting here and waiting for the last
half hour."

"Really?" Kevin asks.

Brendan cracks up, "No!"

It set about Kevin, reaching over the seat and 'fake-strangling' Brendan.

In return, Brendan suggests to Jean-Claude, "Oh, I bet you could Kevin give
a better massage than Thor!"

It then opened up the conversation, which more led towards the real estate
the two took the afternoon to peruse.

"Cool! What's this place look like?"

But more concerned, Tariq asks, "Are Emre and me going to have to find a
new place to live?"

"Not until you start having 'babies'!" Jean-Claude jokes, which set about
Tariq trying to figure it out.

"Kids! Now there's something I hadn't thought about," Kevin replies. "I
think I'd like to be a father someday."

"Me too," Brendan smiles and looks across the way to Jean-Claude.

To put the matter to rest for now, Jean-Claude asks, "How about we spin
around and pick up Emre, then we all can go check out the beach house?"

%

Copyright 2009 T. Chase McPhee

"December Lullaby - DECEMBER - tis the season to be merry" may not be sold,
nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author.

The more you stretch, the more you can fit in... 'spread' happiness!
TCMcP.....