Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 09:58:26 -0700
From: Clone Buggs <cqsqfq@hotmail.com>
Subject: Across the Alley part 5

Across the Alley V


	With Dale and John gone most of the time at the University, and
Jack working such long hours at his job, I found my time becoming my own
again.  The changes in my life had brought a renewed vigor to my writing,
and my editor in New York, was pleased with the new material I was sending
him.  I was working away on a piece for The Advocate, one morning, when the
phone rang.
	"Hello?"  I picked up the receiver and my coffee cup at the same
time.
	"I'd like to speak to Stony Austin please."  The voice was deep and
masculine in my ear, but I was puzzled that he'd used my pen name.  No one
had ever called me by my pen name before, and I didn't keep a phone number
under it either.
	"So how did you find me?"  I decided to be blunt.  I didn't want a
fan of my writing stalking me, especially now that I had Jack and the boys
in my life.
	"Uh...through a lot of detective work..." He must have sensed I
wasn't too happy with the call.  "Can you just hear me out?  If you say no,
I'll hang up and you'll never hear from me again.  Honest, I'm not a
stalker...well not a dangerous one anyway."  His voice had a pleading edge
to it.
	"To whom am I speaking?"  I was trying to keep it as formal as
possible, but he had one sexy voice.  Not to mention I wanted to know how
he'd gotten my number without knowing my real name.
	"Herb Kline."  He took a deep breath, almost waiting for me to hang
up.
	"So, Mister Herb Kline, to what do I owe this unexpected phone
call?" I put my emphasis on the word unexpected.
	"Well," he began.  "Let me say first, that I represent a group,
that has long admired your writing."
	"So?"
	"We pieced together from various articles and stories you've
published over the past few years, that you must live in Phoenix or in one
of the `burbs."
	"Uh huh."
	"A friend in New York, was able to make an exchange with an
employee at your publisher's for your real name.  The rest was easy as
looking you up in the phone book."
	"You still haven't told me why you've called me."
	"We, our little group, would like to invite you to join us for
dinner at one of our little get togethers.  We meet a couple of times a
month and eat a good meal, and enjoy each other's company for the evening."
	"What kind of group are we talking about Mister Kline?"
	"Please, call me Herb."
	"Fine Herb.  What kind of group is it?"
	"Well, ultimately, it is a sex club for men."  His voice was a bit
hesitant as he spoke these words.  "There's more to us than just sex, and a
year or so ago, we decided that you were one of the most stimulating
writers publishing today, and we wanted to meet you if possible."  He
paused a moment, giving me a chance to say something, but I choose to
remain silent.
	"It was like pulling teeth to get your real name.  Phil, our New
York friend, had a hard time even hooking up with the employee at your
publisher's, and it took him more than six months to wheedle you name out
of him after he did."
	"So what did Phil have to do to get my name?"  This was beginning
to sound interesting.
	"Well, let's just say that the employee at your publisher's has
some exotic tastes when it comes to sexual practices, and almost none of
his interests coincided with poor Phil's.  Phil is a trouper though, and he
gave his all for the cause we set him to do."  I was even more interested
now.
	"So," I toyed with the possibilities in my mind for a moment.
"What is the next step in this drama Herb?"
	"Well, could we possibly meet in some neutral place of your choice
to have a face to face and discuss it?"
	"I suppose so."  I thought about it for a moment, and suggested a
Chinese restaurant that I liked in central Phoenix that served very
tolerable Dim Sum.  The place was so busy and noisy, we could discuss sex
with animals with impunity because no one would hear even if they could
speak English, which was probably not to great a possibility.  I mentioned
the name to Herb.
	"I know it well.  When can we meet?"
	"Today?"
	"Today's fine.  Lunch then?"
	"I'll be there at noon.  How will I know you?"
	"I'll know you Stony.  I've seen your photograph in the gay press
from time to time."  I tried to remember when I'd had a photo published,
and couldn't think of a single instance when the photo published with an
article was actually me.  I liked this bit of chicanery his faulty
confidence gave me.
	"Well, give me a clue about yourself anyway."  Herb laughed.
	"How's tall dark and handsome?"
	"Fine, put a flower in your lapel.  You are wearing a suit aren't
you?"  He agreed to a carnation, and we hung up.
	The China Palace was bustling with activity when I walked into the
door.  The big red booths with their tables draped with white cloth, were
packed with a mixture of Chinese men and a few Anglo business men who had
traveled enough to have developed a taste for the exotic in food at least.
I told Chang, the seater, I'd be having a guest, and would like a booth so
we could talk while we ate.  He nodded, and in barely understandable
English, blurted too fast; "Fiminit."
	True to his word, in five minutes, a booth vacated, and the bus
boys were on it in a flash.  As Chang, lead me to it they had it cleaned
and reset by the time we had worked our way through the crowd and the
steaming carts of Dim Sum delicacies being pushed by white jacketed Chinese
waiters.
	I took a seat, and was poured a steaming cup of fragrant jasmine
tea from a large stainless teapot a tea boy then sat down on the table.  He
leaned over slightly in a bow, and lifted the teapot lid.  "Empty, this
way."  He bowed again, closed the lid and was gone.  What he'd meant, was
when the pot was empty, if I opened the lid, he'd return with a fresh pot.
	I glanced at my watch, and saw it was a minute before noon.  The
front door opened, and a tall darkly handsome man and shorter, no less
handsome boy walked into the restaurant.  Chang bowed to them and spoke his
fiminit warning, but I saw the agreed upon carnation, and walked up to Herb
and the boy.
	"Herb Klein?"  He looked at me blankly.  "Herb," I said, having a
bit of fun at his expense.  "You don't remember me do you?"  He looked
stricken.  Obviously he didn't want some guy from his past he couldn't
remember joining him at our meeting.  His face flushed.
	"Uh...Gee, I'm drawing a blank here.  Where did we meet?"  I
grinned.  Now that the tables were turned, he was the one uncomfortable
with the familiarity.  I notched it up one.
	"At your club.  It's been a while, but we had a great time that
night didn't we?"  I looked at the boy, he was hardly legal, and was
smiling at me while he glanced at Herb.
	"What was your name again?  I'm sorry, I've drawn a complete
blank."
	"Stony Austin."  I offered my hand, and he lamely shook it.  A shit
eating grin spread on his face as he quickly realized he'd been played
with.
	"Stony, I'm really glad you agrees to meet with me."  He pumped my
hand too long, and finally I pulled it away.
	"I've got a booth in the back of the room." I turned and led the
way.  "So who is your pretty young friend?"  We were sliding into the booth
with the boy between us.
	"This is Danny."  Herb introduced his friend, and I poured them
both tea, having snagged an unused cup from a set table we'd passed on the
way back to the booth.
	"Nice to meet you Danny," I offered my hand, which the boy shook
once before returning his hands to his lap beneath the white tablecloth.
	A steam cart trundled up to the table, and the waiter, began
showing us the selection of Dim Sum.  I pointed to several small plates,
and the waiter deftly placed them on the table.  I finished selecting and
shooed him away.  Danny's eyes were looking at the selections with
trepidation.  He'd obviously never been to a Dim Sum restaurant before.
	"It looks like you keep him home and in the dark," I said to Herb.
	"I've only known Danny for a few days.  He's new to Phoenix from
Iowa.  There's a lot he doesn't know yet, but he's willing to learn.
Aren't you Danny?"  The boy nodded, his strawberry blond hair falling
slightly over his right eye.  I'd yet to hear him speak.
	I picked up a Shu Mai dumpling with my chopsticks and sprinkled it
with a dab of hot sauce, and popped it into my mouth.  The silkiness of the
pasta covering on my tongue, sending a thrill to my taste buds, followed
instantly by the clutch at my throat from the heat of the sauce, and the
wonderful flavor of the pork stuffing and little round of sausage my teeth
cut into.  My juices flowed at the flavor, and I smiled.
	Herb picked up his chop sticks and helped himself to a pot sticker.
Danny sat quietly with his hands still in his lap, watching the two of us
eating the delicious food.  I realized, he was at a loss about chopsticks,
and there being no other utensils on the table, he wasn't about to make a
fool of himself.
	I took a second Shu Mai with my sticks, and held it up to his
mouth. He looked slightly frightened, and glared hard at the morsel under
his nose.
	"Don't worry Danny, it's just pork and pasta."  He sniffed
suspiciously at the food, and then opened his lips slightly.  "Open wide,"
I said, pushing the dumpling into his mouth.  "Take the whole thing in and
chew it slowly.  They're my favorite Din Sum."  He chewed slowly as
instructed, and as the flavors filled his mouth, he let a grin spread over
his face.  His blue eyes lighted up with delight at this new treat.
	I raised my hand and waved at one of the bus boys.  When he arrived
at the table, I told him to bring a fork for Danny.  He didn't understand,
so I pantomimed eating with a Western utensil.  He smiled and nodded,
disappearing for what seemed like an instant before he was back with a
fork.
	"There Dan," I handed him the fork.  "Chopsticks are an acquired
affectation.  A fork works just as well."  Herb was grinning at the two of
us.
	"Well," he said, around a second dumpling.  "I enjoyed watching you
feed the little bird."  Danny blushed, and speared a pot sticker on the
tines of his fork.
	"So why are we here Herb?"  I picked up a Sha Su Bow, and peeled
the little square of paper off it's bottom.  "Try this Dan, they have
Chinese Barbecue pork inside.  Delicious."  He took it with timid fingers,
and smelled it before tasting a little of the bun.
	"To speak bluntly, we, our little group that is, would like you to
join us for dinner at our next meeting.  Ultimately, we'd like to offer you
an exclusive membership if you'd accept it."
	"And so this is really a sex club?"  Herb nodded.  "Is Danny a
member?"
	"Not a member, but one of the toys."  I glanced at Danny when he
said this and saw the boys neck and face darken with another blush.  I
found it charming.
	"That's a bit blunt isn't it?"  I glared briefly at Herb.
	"Danny knows all about it, and understands what his part of the
scenario is."
	"And just what is his part?"  I watched Danny eating silently,
chewing, looking down to avoid eye contact with either of us.
	"He responded to our invitation on the internet.  He's here of his
own accord, and is really looking forward to you breaking him in."
	"Breaking him in?"  I'd stopped eating.
	"We paid his fare from Iowa, so he could join us."
	"How old are you Danny?"  I looked at the boy, who now seemed
younger than ever.  His blue eyes caught mine briefly, and then were back
on the table top.
	"Eighteen," His voice was barely audible over the noisy restaurant
crowd.
	"What about your parents back in Iowa?  What do they think of
this?"  He looked into my eyes a bit longer this time, and I saw pain
there.  He looked ready to tear up.
	"His parents," Herb interjected.  "Kicked him out of the house when
he told them he thought he might be gay.  His dad beat him up pretty badly,
and told him never to show his face in their house again."
	"Your mother agree with this?"  I put a hand on his shoulder.  He
was trembling slightly.  He looked up at me and nodded.
	"You're going to have him crying here in a minute," Herb said.  I
looked back to him, and raised my eyebrows.  "His mother was the one who
told him to get out first.  Apparently, they are farm folks and don't have
any truck with homosexuality.  They were hassling him about finding a girl
and settling down and producing some new farm hands for the family.  They
had even picked out the bimbo for him to marry.  A cow from the next spread
over, who Danny describes as man hungry."
	"He was desperate to get away from Iowa, and was living in a feeld
hand's flop house.  He found us on the computer at the local library, and
answered our ad.  When he explained his situation, we had a quick
conference and wired him the money for a bus ticket.
	He showed up here in Phoenix four days ago, penniless, and with
almost no clothes to his name.  Some of the guys in our group, were kind
enough to contribute to a fund to get him situated.  He has some decent
clothes now, and I'd guess h isn't hungry anymore, and he's been staying at
my place, waiting to meet you."
	"Me?"
	"Danny's a virgin, Stony.  We want to make a gift of him to you if
you'll join our club."  My mouth dropped open.
	"I...uh..."  I was speechless.  I picked up the teacup, and sipped
the hot fragrant beverage, thinking.  "Herb," I began, sipping once more
before setting the cup down.  "I have a lover, and two sons in college.
Well, actually they are my lover's sons, but we have become a happy family.
	"I appreciate what you are offering, and I certainly wouldn't want
to hurt Danny's feelings, but..."  Danny was looking at me intently,
listening with his eyes glistening, and his chin quivering and dimpled.  I
hesitated.
	"Danny, is this what you want?"  He nodded, and then looked back to
the table top.
	"He wants a family Stony.  We think you can give him what he
needs."
	"Just what makes you think that?"
	"Your stories.  The situations you write about.  Men and boys
together."  I looked at Danny as he spoke, and saw large tears coursing
down his flushed cheeks.  I handed him my napkin, and watched him wipe his
tears away.
	"Danny, are you sure this is what you want?  I can certainly talk
to Jack, my lover about it tonight, and the boys when they get home from
school..."  My voice trailed off, as my mind flooded with thoughts
suddenly.
	"Herb, this is going to be impossible."
	"No it isn't.  We've thought about you for a long time.  He would
be more than welcome in any of our beds, if we all didn't have boys
already.  We needed a new member to take Danny into his heart and home."
	A steam cart trundled up to the table just then, and the waiter
began showing off his Dim Sum Choices.  I waved him away, and watched him
push on to the next table while I thought.  The boy was certainly in need,
and from what I understood now, willing.  He needed a teacher to bring him
out in a caring way.  If that didn't happen, he'd most likely end up on the
streets prey to every kind of degradation and disease the gay lifestyle was
prone to.  I couldn't see this innocent boy subjected to that.  He needed a
chance to be himself, to learn about himself in good time, with caring,
loving men, who would respect him.
	I put a hand under the tablecloth and patted Danny's knee.  He
looked up at me, and tried to smile.  He was still trembling under my
touch.
	"Herb, you put me in an awkward position..."
	"I know it Stony, and I apologize for doing it, but it seemed a
good idea at the time."  I thought about the situation for a while longer,
sipping tea silently.  Finally, a plan began t materialize in my mind.  I
patted Danny's knee again, and set my cup down.  My hand was shaking a
little, and I slopped a bit of tea onto the white tablecloth.
	"Danny," I put a finger under his chin to bring his eyes up to mine
again.  "Will you allow me to bring you home with me as a trial to see if
you like our situation?  After all, this needs to be acceptable to you
first doesn't it?"  He nodded quickly.
	"In that case Herb, I guess we'll give it a tryout.  When is this
dinner party you've scheduled?"
	"Not scheduled yet.  You tell me."
	"Can I include my lover and his sons?"
	"Are the boys aware?"  I nodded this time, understanding what he
was asking.
	"They introduced me to their father.  They were the ones who
brought him out after their mother dumped them all."
	"Sounds like a happy family."
	"We'll see."  I motioned for a check, and slid out of the booth.
"Come on Dan, you might as well come home with me now, so you can start
making your mind up about me and my family."  He smiled at me, sun coming
into his face for the first time since he'd entered the restaurant.
	"That's great Stony," Herb said.  "I'll tell the guys in the club.
When did you want to have the dinner scheduled?"  Give us a week, and then
schedule it on Saturday.  My family will all be available then, and we will
have gotten to know each other by then, and should know more about what we
want to do."
	I paid the tab, and we walked out into the bright Phoenix sunlight.
Danny was walking next to me now, and Herb trailed along slightly behind
us.  Danny's hand slipped into mine, and I squeezed it gently, and felt him
return the squeeze.
	"This is me." Herb had stopped in front of a late model Lexus.
I'll call you with the details Stony."
	"Fine."  I waved with my free hand, and Danny and I walked to my
older Mercedes convertible several cars down the line.  I asked Danny if he
could drive, and he nodded.  A man of few words.  I handed him the keys,
and stepped around to the passenger side.
	"Neat," he said, and smiled broadly as he opened the door.

End