Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2003 00:45:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: Robyn <wolfhowlin2001@yahoo.com>
Subject: Lives Intertwined (Chapter 5)

	Welcome to chapter 5. This character will be quite different from
the rest since none of them are alike. This character has been mentioned
but not in great detail... until now.


Lives Intertwined (Chapter 5)
By The WhiteWolf



	Adam was startled for a moment. He had been daydreaming for the
fourth time that day.

	"Excuse me," he spoke to the waitress.

	The waitress apologized overlapping his words, "I'm sorry."

	"My fault entirely," he returned. The waitress apologized with a
nonverbal response and then moved out to the kitchen.

	Adam is an executive who works for an ad agency. His job is quite
dull, but his salary is more than adequate. Lately, his life has become
much more tedious and nothing has lifted his spirits. Nothing, except
perhaps that young stud who works in the mailroom. But Adam can't be sure
of this kid: was he simply flirting with him, or teasing.  In either sense
it was too risky to pursue at this juncture.

	He quickly glanced out among the faces in the cafe. From his
skimming the room with his eyes he surmised that they were either too old
or too young. Adam, himself, is only in his early 30's, but is very
discerning about whom he decides to go out with. Of course, he's not just
looking for a one-night stand. He longed for a real relationship, something
which had eluded him for quite a while.

	Stepping outside he realized it was already dark. He had been in
the cafe longer than he had originally thought. Adam smiled at the
thought. He doesn't go out much and recently he had decided to immerse
himself in the present culture trends. This may have been the underlying
fear of getting old. After a week of this, he knew that it was inevitable
and now has to come to terms with it.

	Adam walked down the street and glanced across the street and saw a
park. He shook his head imagining that that would be where he'd spend the
rest of his later years - feeding the pigeons. The smell of freshly baked
cookies awoke him. They seemed to be emanating from the bakery a few meters
from where he was standing. It was much too enticing to pass up.

	Entering the store the scent became stronger and Adam knew he was
going to walk out of the store with at least one cookie. No one was behind
the counter at the time so he decided to check out the selections. The
cookies were very large and, as a result, quite expensive.

	After seconds passed he heard a smooth voice, "Can I help you?"
Adam looked up and was taken aback. Adam stood there silent while trying to
formulate his words while staring at the man. The employee seemed to be in
his mid twenties, dark hair, and quite attractive. His nametag read
Robert. What caught Adam's attention was the overly obvious pink scarf tied
around his neck. Adam's staring did not go unnoticed, but Robert said
nothing.

	"Uh let's see," Adam finally got a grasp on what to say as he
looked down at the selection again, "I'll take one sugar cookie and one
peanut butter." Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out a hundred
dollar bill.  He suddenly remembered what he used it for earlier.  The tip.
He put it back in his pocket as he pulled out his wallet. Adam added up the
total in his head and put down exact change.

	"Sure thing," Robert said replying to Adam's order. He opened the
sliding door to pick up the cookies. Adam went back to staring at
him. After all he couldn't see him staring if he was busy with the
cookies. "It's not very polite to stare."
	Adam glanced down coming the obvious realization the glass case in
not one-way and his staring was more than visible. Before Adam could react,
Robert stood up and spoke again, "You are correct in assuming that his
scarf is not part of the standard uniform." Robert put the cookies down on
the counter. "If you want the truth, I'm trying to get fired but I know
this company can't afford to lose me." As Adam picked up the cookies Robert
picked up the money. "Besides it's good advertising." Adam froze for a
moment and quickly walked out.

	A sigh escaped his lungs as he had walked far enough away from the
shop. The word "advertising" had struck a nerve with Adam. Not because he
works for an agency, but it reminded him of his father. Robert was
advertising his sexuality just as Adam had done earlier in his life.

	"God dammit, Adam," a loud voice resonated through the house
directed at a young man, "What have I told you about that." Adam's father
was upset about the gay pride shirt. "Stop advertising! We have neighbors
you realize!"

	Adam shut the door to his room. And turned on the radio to drown
out sounds.  Adam's father wasn't just angered about how his neighbors
would react (in fact, he would sometimes intentionally piss them off), but
also he feared the Adam would be attacked by some person who obviously
hated gays. He lay down on the bed and reached for the phone. Knowing the
phone number by heart he called Michael, his boyfriend for 4 months
strong. After a few rings there was an answer.

	"Hello."

	Adam's troubled day was soothed by the voice on the other end, "Ah,
god, it feels good to hear your voice."

	"Tough day?"

	"Unbelievably. Can I come over there?"

	There was a short laugh, "By all means, please do. My roommates
gone."

	"Enticing. I'll be there as fast as possible."

	"Well, now, you think just because he's gone you're so suave and
can seduce me in seconds."

	"You doubt that I could?"

	"I'm waiting for you to try, dear," Michael teased Adam.

	"Like I said, I'll be there in seconds. Love ya."

	"I love you too."

	The conversation had ended and Adam crawled out of the window to
his room and left a cassette tape to leave a space when he attempted to
crawl back in later.

	 As Adam reminisced he thought about how bad his childhood was, and
how much easier it was and became after he moved in with Michael. He knew
how his father resented that fact his own son was gay. And there was
nothing that his father could do to change that. He probably would have
disowned him had he known about Michael and him.

	"What did he expect," Adam spoke to himself. "Was I to remain a
virgin till I was 25?" Adam laughed it off and decided to stop thinking
about his past adolescence. "Live in the present", he tried to remind
himself. As he tried to maintain his thoughts about the present he
remembered that he need to do some shopping. It was mere luck that the
supermarket was just across the street.

	After grabbing a cart he walked down the produce section and
glanced at a cloud mushroom. It always caught his attention, but he
couldn't bring himself to buy it.  Besides, how would he cook it?

	Without warning an orange rolled in front of him and stopped near
Adam's shoe.  He picked it up.

	"Sorry, I can be so clumsy at times," a man spoke to Adam. Adam
looked up and smiled.

	As he handed the orange to the man, "No problem." Adam pushed the
cart further down the isle as the other man indicated his thanks.

TBC