Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:24:33 +0000
From: hankster1430@bellsouth.net
Subject: Along Came Antonio: A Short Story

Gino sat at the same table for at least two hours every afternoon, at the
outdoor café right across the street from his apartment.  The street on
which the café was located was notorious for being a cruising area for the
city's gay men.  You can keep April in Paris.  Gino could not get enough of
April in Rome.  The young men who passed his table were candy for Gino's
poor old eyes.  Their tight trousers accentuated their bubble butts and
ample packages, and made Gino's mouth water.

At seventy years young, Gino could still get himself off with his semi-hard
dick, but he had no illusions that he could ever snare one of the beauties
who passed daily by his table, nor did he ever try.  Some of them had
become aware that he was a fixture in the neighborhood.  They would stop
for a quick, "Good afternoon," and "How are you doing old man?"  Gino would
not answer, but he would smile and wave at the young man.

Gino's expectations were not high.  Six years ago he had lost his partner
and companion of over fifty years.  He was a sad and lonely old man.  His
dreams were simple.  All he wanted was to meet another man of any age, but
preferably a senior citizen.  He needed someone to be with, and to talk to,
and to go to the movies with, and to share his meals with.  Most of all he
needed someone to lie with him in his bed at night.  He needed someone who
would hold him in his arms and whom he could hold in his arms.  He so
missed holding a naked man and fondling him, and kissing him, and running
his hands up and down his back.  The yearning was so great that he could
feel the hurt throughout his whole body, so every day he sat at his table
and admired the young men and ached for a companion.

One day, a gentleman, well into his sixties, sat down at the table next to
Gino.  He ordered a cappuccino and nursed it for about two hours before he
left.  During that time he too seemed to be admiring and staring at the
rear ends of the young studs who passed by.

The next day, moments after Gino sat down at his table, the same gentleman
sat down at the one next to him again.  This time when he seated himself,
he nodded slightly at Gino, who politely nodded back.  The waiter took both
their orders before retreating inside the restaurant.  He was back in a few
minutes with Espressos for each of them.  When the gentleman raised his
cup, he said to Gino, "Salute"

"Salute," Gino responded and raised his cup.  Then they sat in silence and
enjoyed the scenery.

On the third day, they greeted each other with a smile.  About a half hour
into their viewing, the gentlemen said to Gino quite unexpectedly, "Oh how
I wish I were fifty years younger.  That one that just passed by has a
killer ass.  I'd give anything to caress it."

"Me too," Gino agreed, but said not another word.  "Well," he thought,
still without any expectations, "the man is gay and very good looking."

The greetings and the once in awhile comments continued for more than three
weeks.  Finally one day, the other man said to Gino, "Signor, I feel as if
we are getting to be old acquaintances."  He stuck out his hand and
introduced himself, "My name is Antonio."

Gino could not believe the man's audacity.  He was very shy by nature and a
very private person, but at the same time, he was not impolite.  He
extended his hand, shook the gentleman's hand and said, "My name is Gino."
Now that they were properly introduced, they became less formal.  Even Gino
mellowed out a bit.  Now when a particularly beautiful ass passed by, the
two discussed the merits of it and laughed at their observations and their
jokes.  Their conversations were limited to comments regarding the eye
candy which passed them by.

They were in the middle of the sixth week of their `relationship' when
Antonio dared to ask Gino, "Do you ever miss not going to work?  Do you
miss not having a place to go and having a purpose?"

Gino smiled at Antonio, and took a moment before he answered.  "Yes," he
finally said, "but only because I am so lonely.  If I had a friend to share
my remaining years with, I guess I wouldn't miss it at all."

"I feel the same way," Antonio said.

After that they sat in silence until eventually Antonio got up and nodded
goodbye.  "Ciao," he said as he left for the day.

Gino did not see Antonio for nearly two weeks after that.  As flimsy as
their friendship was, Gino realized that he missed Antonio terribly.  He
was shocked at his own feelings.  He admonished himself for not having
asked Antonio for his telephone number for just such a situation.  He began
to imagine and fear all sorts of scenarios.  Perhaps Antonio had died, or
worse, perhaps he was very ill and had no one to look after him.  When the
thought that Antonio might be ill came to him, he began to get teary eyed.

But in the end there was nothing he could do.  He certainly could not call
everyone in the phone book with the name Antonio.  And what if he was just
listed as `A. Something or other?'  He did reason that Antonio lived nearby
and that would limit his search if he really dared to do such a thing,
which was highly unlikely.  He just resigned himself to the fact that
Antonio was gone.

Then one day he looked up to see Antonio approaching the café.  He looked
well enough but somewhat pale.  In a manner totally uncharacteristic of
him, Gino jumped up to greet Antonio.  "Where have you been, Antonio?  I
missed you."

"I've just had a terrible battle with the flu, but I'm feeling much better
now.  How are you my friend?"

"I'm fine.  I'm fine," Gino answered and without thinking about it he
pointed to the vacant seat at his table, and he said to Antonio, "Here sit
with me."

The June air was warm and balmy, but they ordered cappuccino anyway.  "Do
you live alone?" Gino inquired.

"Sadly, yes.  I had to rely on my landlady for assistance," Antonio
answered lowering his head.

"I live alone too," Gino said smiling.  "Would it be alright with you if we
exchanged telephone numbers?  This way, if one of us becomes ill again, he
can inform the other.  I truly feared that the worst had happened to you."

Unexpectedly Antonio laid his hand on top of Gino's.  "How kind of you," he
said.

When Antonio's hand touched him, Gino became overwhelmed with emotion.
Nobody had touched him in such a kind and loving manner in better than six
years.  He had to hold back tears and he allowed his other hand to rest on
top of Antonio's.  As he did that their eyes met and they smiled at one
another.  Antonio's smile reacted on Gino as a slight tingle in his long
dormant groin.  He wondered if the same was happening to Antonio.

Antonio pulled his hand away and took his wallet from his pocket.  He
removed a card from the wallet and gave it to Gino, who looked at the card
and smiled.  "You live right around the corner," he said.

"Yes," Antonio said.  "I moved there just a couple of weeks before I first
saw you at this café."

Gino reached into his wallet, and removed his card and gave it to Antonio.
As he did so, he said to Antonio, "I am so glad we've met."

"I am too."

They resumed sipping their cappuccino and commenting on the passing parade.
When it was about time to go, neither seemed to want to be the first to
leave so Antonio finally dropped his guard and said, "Gino, my friend.
Would you honor me by having dinner with me tonight?  My treat."

Gino laughed.  "Are you asking me out on a date?  Because if you are, the
answer is, yes."

Antonio laughed and took Gino's hand again.  "I guess I am," he said.

They arranged to meet at seven at a ristorante they both knew which was
just a street away.  All the while they were making plans for the evening,
Antonio had been holding Gino's hand.  When he got up to leave, he kissed
the back of Gino's hand.  Antonio may have kissed Gino's hand, but he
pierced Gino's heart.  The feel of that kiss almost made Gino swoon.

At home Gino was beside himself with excitement.  He showered and when he
was dry he poured talc generously over his body to avoid any odor of sweat.
He shaved and used too much after shave.  He wore his best shirt and
gabardine trousers with his very best black leather shoes.  When he was all
spiffy and ready to go, he realized that he had an hour and a half to go
before meeting Antonio.  He sat down quietly in his reclining chair, placed
his hands in his lap and waited for the time to pass.

When Gino arrived at the restaurant ten minutes early, Antonio was already
there waiting for him.  He was sitting on a bench outside the entrance.  He
jumped up when he saw Gino and instinctively, the two men embraced and
kissed each other very chastely on both cheeks.

When they entered the restaurant, Antonio looked around and asked to be
seated at a quiet corner table which was available.  He ordered the wine
and told the waiter he would order their meal after they had finished their
first glass.

They were relatively quiet at first and then Antonio started to tell Gino
about his past life with his late beloved partner, who was gone three years
now.

"I met Pierre when I was fifteen.  His family was French and his father
came from France to teach French at our high school.  His father was obese
and his shirt buttons were always popping open.  Furthermore, he spoke
Italian with a very thick French accent which was difficult to decipher.
One day in the school yard I was making fun of the teacher when out of
nowhere I received a jab across my jaw, and I fell to the ground.  `That's
my father you're talking about,' Pierre screamed at me.

"Of course, he was instantly sorry and helped me back on my feet and took
me to the boy's wash room to help me clean up and wash my face.  I had a
bruise on my chin for days, but I didn't care.  I was already in love with
Pierre.  He offered to make up for his violent action by buying me a gelato
after school.  Naturally I accepted.  We became the best of friends and
then lovers.  Now don't laugh at me, but Pierre was the only man I was ever
intimate with."

"Why would I laugh? Jacob was the only man I have ever been intimate with.
Strangely I met him in the school yard too.  We were in elementary school.
Jacob was a Jew.  His father was a dentist who had survived the holocaust.
Not withstanding the fact that Dr. Sartori was the best dentist in Rome,
and everyone in the neighborhood used his services, the boys in the school
yard were taunting Jacob and calling him `Christ killer.'  Jacob was in
tears.

"Now I was always big for my age.  I shooed the other boys away and took
Jacob under my wing.  Every day after school, either he was at my house or
I was at his.  Mostly we were alone in our houses and eventually the
inevitable happened.  I shall never forget the first time we made love.  I
knew that I could never ever leave Jacob.  We were soul mates bound
together for eternity."  Gino wiped away a tear.

After the telling of their sad tales, the two of them were not at a loss
for things to talk about.  The mood lightened, and the conversation
continued with their likes and dislikes, and what kind of entertainment,
books and music they preferred.  In a very short time they knew all about
one another.

As they were finishing their pasta course, Antonio said to Gino.  "I have
been so lonely since my partner died.  Meeting you has been a Godsend."

Gino put his fork down and put his hand on Antonio's.  "I feel the same
way," he said.

Antonio smiled and said, "Let's not order dessert here. Come back to my
place.  I'll make coffee and I have some fresh pastry I bought this
afternoon."

"That sounds nice, "Gino said.

When Antonio got the check, Gino tried to pay his half, but Antonio was
insistent.  "You can get it next time," he said.

Next time?  Gino's heart was racing again at the thought that there would
be a next time.

They walked slowly back to Antonio's apartment with Antonio holding Gino's
arm.  Antonio told Gino that he had moved here about two weeks before they
met.  The old apartment was too big and too expensive to handle alone.
They didn't say anything more but they kept smiling at each other.

When they reached the front entrance of Antonio's building, Gino said,
"This is very nice for me, being with you.  I don't know how many more
lonely evenings sitting at home I can bear."

"It's the same for me," Antonio said and there was a slight sob in his
voice.  "Will you be my friend?  Will you go places with me and do things
with me?"  Gino ran his hand down Antonio's cheek and wiped away the tears.

When they were alone in the apartment, they stood facing each other
awkwardly for a minute or two and somehow Gino got the courage to ask
Antonio, "Will you hold me, please?  Nobody has held me or put his arms
around me for six years."

"Of course, Gino.  I need you to hold me as much as you need to be held."

The two men embraced.  At first they just held each other.  They were both
crying.  Then they stared into each other's eyes and their lips met.  In
the beginning it was like a kiss you would give your baby sister, but
little by little their passion took over.  The kiss got stronger, more
insistent, more passionate, and at last their tongues tasted each other.

"Will you lie naked with me, Antonio?" Gino pleaded.

"I want that too, so badly."

Antonio led Gino into his bedroom.  All thoughts of coffee and dessert were
put aside.  They stripped and lay down in bed facing each other.  They
embraced and pushed their bodies close.  Their semi erect cocks met and
they ground them together.  They ran their hands up and down each other's
backs, especially caressing their buttocks.  Their fingers reached down and
found each other's cocks.  Gently they started to stroke each other as they
began to moan in pleasures newly aroused.

" I want to suck your cock," Antonio said.

"Me too.  Let's play sixty-nine," Gino countered.  They assumed the
position and took each other passionately into one another.  They were each
surprised at how hard they had become.  As each one tongued the other, they
played with the other one's asshole, stroking it and pushing a finger in
occasionally.  Neither expected it to happen, but they came almost
simultaneously, swallowing every drop of the small amount of cum that each
produced.  They lay still for awhile, reluctant to give up the beautiful
instruments they had in their mouths.  Eventually they gave in to the
inevitable.  Antonio was facing the foot of the bed.  He turned around to
face Gino again.  They embraced each other, and at the same time, in
perfect unison, they said, "I love you!"

They lay holding each other, crushing their cocks together.  They both
produced more tears than they were able to produce of semen.  Neither of
them slept that night.  They lay in Antonio's bed fondling and caressing
one another all through the night, making plans for the future, just as if
they were two young school boys who had a lifetime ahead of them.

In the morning Antonio made coffee with buttered rolls and jam.  Then they
showered together.  Without care for the amount of water they used, they
washed and explored each other's bodies until they were practically
sterilized.

After they dressed they went to Gino's apartment for a fresh change of
clothes for Gino.  Instead of getting dressed, Gino got undressed and
Antonio did also.  They lay on Gino's bed, their naked bodies wrapped
together, their arms caressing, their cocks crushed together, and their
tongues in a fierce duel.

They didn't care in the least if they brought each other to a climax or
not.  Their only thought was to hold each other and experience the joy of
having a loving male body to have and to hold again.  Words cannot
adequately describe their new found happiness.  It was all the sweeter
because each had gone from lonely despair to utter euphoria.

Shortly after noon, they reluctantly got out of bed and dressed.  Instead
of just a cappuccino or an espresso today, they decided to have lunch as
well.  They crossed the street and seated themselves at what used to be
Gino's table.  Antonio was more than happy to relinquish his old viewing
spot.

They each ordered ante pasta and a cappuccino and settled down for their
usual viewing activities, but instead they kept turning toward each other
and smiling broadly, totally ignoring the eye candy on the street.  Every
so often they would giggle like children.  Their silly behavior did not
bother them at all.

After awhile, two handsome young men sat down at Antonio's old table.  They
each ordered a salad and an espresso.  They kept staring at Gino and
Antonio, smiling at them and whispering to each other.  Finally one of the
young men said to the older couple.

"Excuse me gentlemen.  We don't mean to be disrespectful, but we would like
to ask you something.  We have just made the commitment to be life
partners.  Sitting here, observing your happy faces, we are inspired by the
two of you.  Can you tell us please how long you have been together?"

Gino and Antonio looked at each other and smiled.  Antonio knew
instinctively that if they told the truth, the young men would be
disappointed so he spoke up quickly, before Gino could say anything.

"We have been together since the world began," he informed them.  As if to
emphasize that fact, he took Gino's hand and kissed it.

"Aah," one of the men said, "that is so beautiful."  He leaned over and
kissed his partner on the cheek.  "You are a true inspiration," he said to
the two older men.  "Thank you."

"I wish you a lifetime of the same happiness we have shared," Antonio told
them.  "Love each other always."  The two men smiled, thanked Antonio for
his good wishes, and returned to their salads as Gino leaned over and
kissed Antonio on the cheek.

After the men finished eating, they got up to leave.  They smiled at Gino
and Antonio, and wished them a good day.  As soon as they were gone, Gino
squeezed Antonio's hand, and said to him, "You are a sinful liar, but a
true romantic.  I almost told them the truth, which is something I now
realize they didn't want to hear."

"You know," Antonio answered, "in true romantic style, I wish to tell you
that I have had enough of butt watching.  I'd much rather watch you.  Let's
go somewhere very private."  They left the café, and arm in arm, they
crossed the street and entered Gino's apartment.

"I want your cock for dessert," Antonio said.

"It's all yours," Gino murmured.

For as many days in the future as they could count, they made love in the
afternoon.  Butt watching hardly ever happened after that.