Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2006 12:08:21 -0400
From: cgard 43 <cgard43@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Art of Love 7-8

Part 7
     The phone rang at seven the next morning. Of course, it was Dennis.
     "Well?" he asked.
     "Well what?" I answered, "We had dinner, we talked a lot and it was
very pleasant. What did you think of him?
     "Well, George and I can't quite agree. Oh, we both think he's very
attractive and quite sexy, but George's gaydar didn't ping like mine did."
     "Yours did?" I asked.
     "Oh yeah, it went off in my head. But at the very same time I got a
nervous vibe about it. George just got the nervous vibe."
     "Thanks for the feedback," I said, "Now, I've got to get to work."
     I saw Art only in passing on Monday but we ate lunch together on
Tuesday and he said he'd started his Internet reading the evening before.
     "So far, it's all been very interesting. Thanks, man."
     Art phoned me in my office on Friday and asked if I'd be home that
evening. I invited him to have dinner, but he said no, he'd be over after
dinner. That puzzled me a bit, but I agreed.
     I met him at the door and as soon as I'd closed it, he gave me a quick
but tender kiss.
     "That's to say thanks," he whispered. I looked at him quizzically and
he came in and sat down to me.
     "For all those websites you found for me. I've spent quite a few hours
checking out those and some other sites and really feel like I'm beginning
to understand things a little bit better.
     "I also had a very interesting session with my pastor last night. I
sometimes go to the Bible study group if I'm not too tired and afterward we
had a private chat.
     "My church is not one of those fundamentalist churches which is so
rabidly homophobic. It's pretty much down the middle on most things but the
pastor has never spoken on the subject, at least when I've been in church.
     "I mentioned to him about that old high school friend who came back and
asked about the church's position on being gay. He gave me one of the most
intelligent answers I've ever heard. It reminded me of something you said to
me early on about God deliberately creating gay people in the world." I
chuckled at his remembering that.
     "Now, I'm not done with all the reading I need to do, but I felt I
needed to talk to you and tell you that I'm trying very, very hard to figure
me out and understand this whole deal."
     "I'm glad it's helping you," I said, "And I'm glad your pastor was so
well informed. I think many of the mainstream churches are coming to grips
with the subject lately."
     "I also need to clear the air about a few things, because I want us
both to honest," he went on, "I didn't quite tell you all the truth about
all my experiences. I first had sex with a buddy in high school a year
before I went into the Marines. It only happened a couple of times and I
figured it was just youthful experimentation. I've lied to myself about
having enjoyed that ever since." I didn't say anything and he went on.
     "Remember what I told you about not liking to kiss and stuff? Well,
that, my friend, is what you call major denial. I figured that out from my
reading on the 'Net. I told myself that having sex with my buddy was okay
'cause we were guys who needed to get off. And as long as we didn't kiss or
stuff, I could just about manage to convince myself that it wasn't because
we were queer or gay."  I nodded but kept silent.
     "So that's where I'm up to. I've told you the truth and admitted I felt
guilty. Now, the next phase, is moving forward and approaching this in the
positive way some of those websites have directed me." He stopped but he
didn't look like he was finished. He had an almost sad look on his face.
     "Please encourage me," he said, almost pleading, "Tell me I'm doing the
right thing."
     "Art, my friend," I said quietly, "You're doing the right thing because
you're getting to know you - the whole you. It's not a case of proving that
you're gay or not gay. It's doing all this so you'll know who and what you
are. If you're straight, you're straight. If you're gay, you're gay. Then
you can decide how to proceed with your life. Right?
     "Right," he said and this time he smiled. "Thank you for helping me
like this. I've really needed someone like you in my life."  He surprised me
by standing up and heading toward the door.
     "I've got an overtime shift tomorrow so I'd better head out." I walked
over to where he stood. When I neared him, he put his hands on my shoulders
and pulled me to him and kissed me. It was electric again for me, especially
when I felt his tongue touch my lips tentatively. I met his with mine and he
made the slightest moan. It was nice, very nice.

Part 8
     Art called late Saturday afternoon.
     "God, I hate overtime Saturdays," he groaned, "I'm exhausted."
     "Poor guy," I sympathized.
     "Well, the reason I called is just to say hello and that I've been
thinking about you all day. I really meant what I said last night about
needing a friend like you."
     "Well, you didn't wait for me to say it last night, but I like knowing
you as well. I think you're a great guy."
     "Thanks," he said very quietly, "That means a lot to me."
     We talked just a few more minutes, before he said he was tired again
and wanted to shower and relax. I told him I'd call him on Sunday.
     I called Art after church on Sunday but he wasn't home. I left a
message and then went out to do some shopping I'd not done the day before.
When I got home there was a message from Art. He was back on his Internet
reading, he reported, but he'd talk to me at work the next day.
     Monday was a hellish day at work. We'd advertised to add an additional
shift and there were 75 people in the waiting room when I arrived at work.
The Assistants were handling them, getting applications and so forth, but
all those people being around made it difficult for me to get anything done.
Finally, I sought refuge and went out to the foundry and ran into Art.
     I explained about the mass confusion in my offices and he sympathized.
We ate lunch together and he brought me up to date on his Internet reading.
It sounded like he'd gone far beyond the sites I'd provided and when he
started telling me about reading some gay stories I started to laugh.
     "Don't take those as gospel," I said, "I'm afraid some of those stories
are a pretty fanciful view of what being gay is like."
     "Oh I know," he countered and I watched him blush. "But I did find some
other sites that I think you'd find interesting as well. I'm gonna send you
an email with them." I thanked him.
     "And most of all, I found an essay on being gay and being special that
really moved me. I'll send you that one as well."
     "You're becoming quite a student of this, aren't you?" I said.
     "Well, it's important to me," he said and blushed again. "Damn." I'm
sure I looked confused. He grinned.
     "You're giving me a hard-on," he whispered. I smiled my broadest one.
     "My hands never left my body," I said with a laugh as I tapped all my
fingers on the table. He laughed too.
     "I gotta go," he said, "I'll call you later in the week."
     Back to the maelstrom that was our offices, I was glad to see that
order had been somewhat restored. We had a lengthy meeting to review
applications and ended up with about thirty applicants who looked promising.
We'd get on those interviews this week and I knew I'd be plenty busy and
that I'd be putting in plenty of hours doing it.
     I didn't get home until almost seven o'clock every night that week and
by Friday I was exhausted. It was just getting ready to close up my desk on
Friday when Art called me.
     "Wow, you're a busy guy," he said. He told me he'd tried to call me
several times at work but hadn't been able to get through.
     "I'm pooped," I said, "This has been the week from Hell!" I was
supposed to go out to dinner with Dennis and George tonight and I was trying
to figure out if I could get out of it.
     "Well, I'm having dinner with my sister, so how about you rest up
tonight and we'll have a small, intimate pool party at my place tomorrow
afternoon. No week-end work this week."
     "Sounds great," I answered. We agreed that I'd come over about one
o'clock. That gave me time for my Saturday chores. Art promised to provide
lunch.
     "Bring that sexy bathing suit of yours," he whispered, "I want to see
you in that again." He sounded excited. I just laughed.
     I decided ultimately that I would meet Dennis and George for dinner. We
went to a very quiet little new place they'd heard about and it was indeed
very nice. We had just ordered drinks when I saw Art walk into the
restaurant. He was alone so I waved him over.
     "Hey, guys," he said, "I'm early to meet my sister."
     "Join us," Dennis said and Art sat down. He ordered a drink when the
waiter returned and we sat and talked for about ten minutes or so. It was
very friendly and we had a nice chat. Then a very attractive woman came in
the restaurant, and Art jumped up to go meet his sister. He started to reach
for his wallet.
     "No, no," I said, "My treat. Have a good time with your sister."
     "Wow," Dennis said after Art had left the table, "I don't know what
changed but my gaydar went off with a bang." George said his did too.
     "And you know what," Dennis went on, "There was no nervous vibe with it
this time. What have you been doing with that man?"
     "Well, not what you're thinking, that's for damn sure," I said,
laughing. I explained what had transpired about the Internet sites and all
that and told them I thought Art was really getting to know himself from his
study.
     "I think I better check out some of those sites," George said with a
chuckle.
     "The Hell you say," Dennis answered with a laugh.