Tales of Akron

[In Chapter 26, Mike slept after Dr. Jim gave him a sleeping pill. He moaned and shifted throughout the night. Dan suspected Mike was having another bad dream. Since the accident Mike had dreamed of the two children whose parents were killed in the accident. Finally, morning came and Mike awoke rested and refreshed.]

          "I want to get out of the house," Mike said. "I need to be somewhere else, do something different."

          "The Gay Pride celebration is today. We could go to Cleveland, watch the parade and go to the park where the Gay Pride celebration takes place," Dan said.

          They stopped by Dodie's for breakfast. "Roberta is the best waitress in the world," Dan said. "Remembers our names, what we like to order and seems happy to be at work."

          "You're right," Mike said. "But, don't think those sweet words should take the place of a good tip."

          They drove to Cleveland and talked in binges -- a lot of fast talk and then silence.

          "The Pride Day parade is good," Dan said. But, I sure wish someone would put in some decorated floats. Marching people and bands are good. But, I want more."

          "What do you want, Dan," Mike asked. "How about male stripers and body builders and anything else that might be a gay man's dream?"

          "Not bad for starters. I did enjoy hearing the Northeast Men's Chorus sing in the parade. But, somehow, I just want more out of that parade."

          "The story of your life -- you want more. Be happy with what you've got."

          "You're sure testy, today," Dan said.

          "No, I'm not being testy, or difficult, or mean. You're my partner, my lover. I should be able to express myself to you. Sometimes my thoughts are merely half baked. But, I want to express them to you. AND, you should be willing to listen and not be so damn critical."

          "Why don't you leave those half-baked ideas in that oven head of yours until they're done before you put them on exhibit. Both of us would be better off," said Dan.

          Mike turned and walked the other way through the vendors at the Gay Pride Day celebration. "Damn, never enough port-a- potties when you need them. Why don't the organizers realize how many people stand in line and for how long. This is stupid."

          Dan turned another corner and realized Mike was gone. Dan visited with the men at the gay journalists table. "Nice guys," Dan thought to himself and kept walking. He watched the boats go by the park. "Well, now they know what gay people look like," thought Dan. He stood and watched the waves of Lake Erie and wished he had a sail boat or maybe lunch or ... he knew what he wanted. "I want to have sex, wild uninhibited sex. Not with Mike. I want to make love with someone I don't know. I want anonymous sex." He looked around at the hundreds of good looking guys. Anyone of them would have been a good partner for Dan. Unfortunately for Dan, most of them had partners.

          "I remember how to cruise and find a new guy. Mike will never know," Dan thought.

          "Hey, Dan, how you doin'?"

          Dan smiled. He recognized Clark. He had always carried a lust for Clark in his loins. "Clark, glad to see you," Dan said, slipping a hand around Clark's waist and planting a kiss on his lips.

          A few yards away, Mike turned just in time to see the kiss. Mike looked away. He took a deep breath and started walking in the opposite direction.