EDGEWATER DR by Mike Austin
nasstop@yahoo.com
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I.
It was a June night, several years ago. The main cruise spot was along the bay on Shoreline Dr. at the T-heads. Hustlers walked the sidewalk, gay cruisers drove passed, paused, pulled over, had an exchange and/or agreement, then would go from there. It was a June night, several years ago and I remember every detail as though it was yesterday.
It was unusually hot and humid so early in the Summer, but this was Texas. I had the top down on the `66 Mustang and after making the circuit a few times after the bars, was about to pull over and put up the top and turn the a/c on when I saw him. How had I missed him? How could he have just been there along the walk or maybe he was just sitting on the lower steps of the seawall/breakwater and come back up to street level? Regardless, I needed a closer look. T-shirt off and stuffed in his rear jeans pocket, longish dark hair, not black, brown, had to be brown as I got closer. Saw the rose tattoo on his left bicep, he slowed his pace, turned slightly as I cruised by, nodded an uplift head move, then continued the slow hustler stroll along the walkway. An approaching car turned and their headlight sprayed his chest and torso in light. A block ahead, I pulled over, began putting up the top. He walked closer and as I secured the top, stopped aside the car, "sweet ride" he remarked, bending down at the waist though not squatting, just enough so he could see inside. The breeze blew his longish hair, "thanks man, yeah my dad's gift to me in the will, he was real proud of this baby", I countered. "289 eh" he added, noting the V8 fender badging, "pony interior too, A/C, console automatic, damn" he shook his head in admiration. "I'm headed to the U&I for coffee and pie if you wanna take a ride there" I posed the ruse being to get him inside and not as obvious a hustler/john event to the other traffic. "Sorry man, few coins maybe another time though, really sweet ride" he replied- "naw, my treat bro, figured I could use some company there and you could enjoy the ride in the Stang" I added, reaching across the passenger seat to unlock the door. "You sure man, maybe just an iced tea, OK" he continued as he opened the passenger door, tugged up his crotch and sat easily in place. "Jack here" reaching to shake hands; "Brad" I responded. The U&I was about a mile away and was a local café/diner/food joint/after hours spot/hangout that was near downtown and the cruise area. It was a popular hustler hangout after the bars closed. The gentle scent of his sweat filled the car. Not acrid or overpowering, just a guy's scent. He admired the interior as we made for the U&I, and offered "damn" more than once at some detail or finish he found. He remained shirtless and his pecs were firm, slightly buff, his hard dark nips tilted down at the edge of each pec. His tight torso revealed a slight brown happy trail that disappeared beneath his belt. Long legs had led him into the passenger seat and he sat back relaxed, knees wide, crotch a visual but unknown as yet. We pulled into the parking lot and as he exited the car, reached to pull on his Tshirt. Dark but not extreme pits as each arm reached for the Tshirt armhole then urged it to slide down his torso. He was rough but easy going and had a long stride as he walked into the diner. As we stepped inside, the lighting brought his features into clearer view. Dark eyes capped by heavier eyebrows, a lean face, but pronounced cheek bones and strong jaw. Below the rose tattoo was a scar, perhaps from a blade or other metal. His butt was not pronounced and rather flat in his jeans, but his crotch was full and shifted easily as he walked and as we sat at the table, he again groped his crotch to snug up his package.
The waitress brought menus, water, utensils and napkins and asked for our drink order. He stared at the menu for what seemed a long stretch of time; I ordered two sweet teas and the waitress disappeared. "Order whatever you want Jack, I'm hungry for breakfast stuff, like pancakes, bacon and eggs but if you'd prefer a burger and fries or such go for it", I urged. "I am hungry" came his reply, then looking around, and seeing no one he knew, he grew a bit more relaxed, stretched his long legs under the table and was ready when the waitress returned with our drinks to take our order. "Yes maam, I'll have the double burger with cheese and fries", he looked up at me for approval and continued "uh well done please". His courtesy to our waitress did not go unnoticed by either her or me. "I'll have a short stack, bacon and eggs over easy please, thank you" she smiled at us both and taking our menus, left to the kitchen order row. Jack sat very still, almost in a shell or defensive position until I broke the silence; "so do you eat here much, or have another favorite place" I questioned? "Naw, been here a couple of times, just been here for about a week, stayin over at the Y, ya know, it's good, but figure I need to lay low and get a steady job, then get in a little better place, the Y can get hard ya know", his remarks drifted off as he downed the sweet tea in almost a single gulp. I caught our waitress' attention and she refilled his glass promptly. "Thank you maam" again he offered and you saw her warm to his courtesy again before leaving the table. "Really dry ya know for some reason" he added as he slowed his downing of the next glass of tea. "So what type work you do or experience" I posed? "Mostly warehouse, day labor, yards, landscaping stuff, no real construction experience or tools, so just rely on whoever I'm working for to have those" he relaxed more as the waitress brought our meal. "Wow this looks good" as he grabbed the burger with both hands and began to devour it. "Slow down buddy, there's more if you need it, just don't get a sick stomach from gorging yourself" I urged. My pancakes disappeared in about the same light speed as his burger, so I had no room to talk. I slowed down on the bacon and eggs. We made more small talk about where he was hoping to find work and as the meal ended our waitress returned to remove plates, offer coffee and dessert and at the mention of cake, pie or ice cream- his eyes lit up, but we could see his reluctance to order. "Ya know hun, I figure it's your birthday today and on your birthday you get a free pie a la mode, so what's your favorite flavor and pie" she winked as she urged Jack to order. "Well maam it's not my birthday" and before he could finish she countered, "Bullshit it IS your birthday today, cuz I say it IS". His look was so appreciative as he moved from me to her and back, then "guess apple and chocolate ice cream please". That cinched it for me. The waitress I swear had a tear in her eye as she left to prep Jack's dessert.
In a flash she returned, set the warmed pie before him, he thanked her again, then added "Thank You too Brad". "I really don't have any ya know tip money for her either", "no worries Jack" as I said. This time he ate the dessert slowly, savoring each morsel and scraped the bowl clean with his spoon to get all the ice cream. We sat there a bit longer, nursed down some water before I posed, "Jack I have some landscaping chores at my place, if you're interested and I do have tools; we can work out the details if you'd like to take a look at my ideas and maybe get some of yours, since you've had experience doing that stuff"? His eyes glowed with excitement and he sat up straight in the chair with interest. "So what kind of lawn do you have, is there shrubbery or undergrowth, who's been doing your yard and how long, will they get pissed if I show up taking work away from them, I don't wanna cause trouble" in a rapid response recap. "I got nothing and about out of coins ya know so sure could use the work and the offer, I won't disappoint you and if you don't like what I can do, just don't pay me, that's the way it's usually gone", he brokered and could feel my heart crack. "Jack how old are you" I asked, "21" his reply, with eyes downset to the tabletop again and he spoke to the table, "and this is all I got". "Come on, let's blow this joint as I scooped up the bill, glanced at it and left a $10 tip for `Honey' our waitress. I paid the tab, we headed back to the Stang, "so how do I get to your place" he asked "you ride with me from here" I answered directly. He went on, "Brad I didn't start out hustling ya know, I just, well just had to make what I could anyway I could to just keep going". "No worries or expectations from me Jack; we'll get you to the house and in the morning you can scope out the yard and hear my ideas then get yours and we go from there" I shared matter of factly. I wanted to hug him and make things right in his world for some reason and not just for sex.
Jack made some light chatter about weather being important for any changes in landscaping, as we headed down Ocean to 6073 Edgewater Dr. The mid-century modern case study styled house was my family home. Growing up in it, my siblings and I had enjoyed an exceptional lifestyle, though we didn't realize anything unique. We blindly accepted that all kids our age, as our neighbors, enjoyed the perks of our lower upper class. Dad was a bank president, mom even worked as an assistant hospital administrator in an era when women were typically stay-at-home types. My older brother and sister had long ago married and moved to the big city, began their lives and families, leaving me to care for our aging folks, the house, local holdings and such, and be the official family greeter at home comings, holidays and family trips. After all, in my siblings' eyes, what else did I "have to do"? Actually the bank honored dad at his retirement and his long-time secretary, who would also retire, and I assembled quite a send off. Who knew that within four years, there'd be three additional farewells, first dad's secretary, then dad and lastly, mom? Suddenly my days were filled with seemingly idle gestures doing volunteer work, sponsoring PBS fund raisers, college sponsorships, continuing to manage family holdings and frequent drives along Shoreline or the local bars in search of, "love". "Holy crap Brad, watch out", stunned me back to driving home on this early morning hour, from Jack's outcry. I'd almost missed the curve beyond Seaside Memorial Park where the folks were buried, and offered Jack sincere apologies as we continued to Country Club Drive, then onto Edgewater and the safety of home. "Holy crap you must be loaded" came Jack's assessment of my house. "Just lucky" was my only reply.
A two-position carport spanned the gap from the main part of the house and was anchored on the opposite side with a single guest room and bath, that mom had used for her "craft zone" as she called it. It was the last room to get cleared after she passed away and the hardest for me. Often used now, when the siblings or their kids would come to visit, or if they brought guests along. At one point in time, I recall the folks saying they were going to install a pool out back and the small room and bath would become a cabana room, but neither ever happened. All the neighbors were asleep, there was little traffic at the hour on the side street, nor any aircraft noise out at the Naval Base across the bay. The stillness seemed to echo my heartbeat that was rushing in my ears. The carport was well-lit and the Explorer took the 2nd position, both vehicles engulfed by the oversized 50's carport stalls. "Uh Jack, it's late and maybe you'll be more comfortable over here" as I led the young man to the side room at the opposite end of the carport. "There're soft drinks in the small fridge, clean linens on the bed and towels in the closet if you want to shower before crashing" I remarked as I unlocked the door. The space had a large wall air conditioner which I turned up to further cool down the space. Jack looked at me, around the room, back at me and asked, "but don't ya know wanna get it on"? "Jack, it's late, let's talk more after a good night's rest and we'll see where it goes then", my parting gesture as I left him to shower, crash, jack off or figure out where he was. Crossing back to the main part of the house, again the carport's lighting stunned me awake more and in the distance, the approaching Navy jet's whine seemed louder than ever in the stillness.
I was too tired to pour a drink, climbed the stairs, kicked off shoes, stretched out on my bed and woke at 6a.m. to the whine of jets doing their touch and goes at the base. OMG 4 hours sleep was nowhere near what I needed and then thought of Jack. Went downstairs, started the coffee, put four bottles of sweet tea in the fridge, checked for eggs, bacon, milk, cereal, then wondered when he might wake, went out to get the paper and found him raking leaves out front. He looked up, waved, grabbed the paper and walked toward me. "Found the rake by the SUV and figured I was awake, could get a jump on this yardwork before you woke, and didn't want to make much noise in case you slept in" handing off the paper and sort of propping up on the rake handle. "Uh well that's sure a good way to start my day, I mean, thanks" I was stymied, "let's get some breakfast and talk about things" I continued as we headed inside, me only slightly glancing around the other houses for any prying eyes. I'd brought tricks home before, but they'd always left or I took them back before sunrise and any waking neighbors. This was different, I continued "what's your pref for breakfast, you drink coffee, tea- I mean iced tea or milk" I trailed off, Jack sat at the short bar watching my somewhat nervous state, point out breakfast options. "Hey Brad, how bout you just chill some, drink some coffee, read your newspaper and I'll get a glass of milk and cup of coffee and maybe tale a look at the sports section" came his calm urging. As directed, I sipped the first cup of morning coffee, then downed it as Jack sat at the bar, going through the few pages of the Caller-Times sports section. With it being Summer, there wasn't much to report on locally, but he took it all in before commenting "slow day for sports news I guess, so what do you usually do for breakfast or what do you have set for your Sunday"? Looking at the young straight man sitting opposite the bar, my thoughts flashed back to the image of him grabbing his crotch as he sat down at the U&I a few hours earlier and wondered about his package; before shocking back to the present and admitting that "Sunday's I usually just bum around". "Not today man, I need to earn that meal and crash pad; my dad always told me no free ride kid, before he kicked me out" he said flatly. That premise could as easily come from mine. "Guess I need to take you to the Y" I stated. He looked up dejected and replied "but thought you had some yardwork for me, ya know like you said last night"? "No I mean, to get you checked out of there and get your stuff to bring back here; I mean if you're going to work here, there's no sense in me driving you back and forth to the Y every day, when that guest room seemed to suit you, I mean if that's agreeable; and Jack, no strings attached, if you're not interested in anything more", I closed. "Naw were're good Brad, and those digs are fuckin awesome, I mean great, and you are too for helping me out; I mean, ya know, we'll see how this plays out and go from there" he replied, then added "check out time is noon at the Y". "So what's it gonna be for breakfast, I don't have a burger and fries to whip up" as we both laughed. "Cereal's good for me" he answered, then I responded, "well you should eat a bit more if you've got the yard stuff to do, so how about bacon, eggs, toast, and I'll find some clothes, baggy shorts, a T' and flip flops my nephews left here after their last visit, and think there's a spare razor so you can clean-up after we eat then we'll run to the Y, get your stuff and get back and then talk about the landscape ideas"? In a flash he was off the barstool, helping with plates, utensils, napkins and toast as I threw together the bacon and eggs. It was as though he'd found a home I thought, then Had He'?
After breakfast and KP duty, I found the extra clothes that Ben, my nephew, had left, the package of disposable razors and a new toothbrush and lined up other toiletry items, then handed all off to Jack, who disappeared to "my suite" as he was now calling the guest room. I made a bee-line upstairs, showered and oh did that shower feel great, cleaned up, dressed and came back downstairs. After about 15 more minutes and no Jack, I headed to the guest room and found him leaning against the Explorer bumper, dressed in the palm-design baggy shorts, Hang-10 Tshirt and green flip-flops. He looked the part of any 20-something clean cut guy, with hair blowing and as I came out to the carport, he jumped up, ready to go when I asked "what are you standing out here for"? "I didn't want to just come back inside until invited in", he admitted. "Oh fuck Jack, you take all, if I didn't, well never mind" I trailed off.......
We took the SUV as I wasn't sure what all he had at the Y and the back end would be better to load any duffle bag(s) or such. "So do you owe anything at the Y to be able to check-out" I asked? "Naw you gotta pay in advance, but that's why the check-out time is noon, cause they lock your room down if you don't pay for the following week in advance, to play it safe and they don't get jammed", he said flatly. The June Sunday was breezy and the humidity wasn't too high yet, the skies were clear blue. He said "the jets are awesome to watch, you're so close to the base, you ever go there and watch em do that land and take-off scene"? he queried. "It's called touch N go' as they practice for carrier landings and launches or aborts and yes some days I sit at the end of the lawn with a drink and just watch em fly free", I closed. Then thought, maybe one day, he might enjoy that little diversion? "Do you need help with your stuff" I offered as I pulled into the side parking lot at the Y. "Naw just be a few, got two duffle bags and a tote's all, then will check-out and be back" he advised. I sat watching some of the guys come and go and wondered about their lives at the Y, and in general. As Jack advised, it took about 15 minutes for his return, lugging two duffle bags and a small tote, wearing a sweat-stained cotton duck hat with strap, that you could tell was a pride and joy possession. His phrase from the U& I, and this is all I got' came to mind. I helped him load the gear in the back of the Explorer and we headed back home. In a few minutes, he admitted, "we better put the windows down, sorry not had much cash to do laundry or clean up the bags" as he looked down and I had to admit that, his gear needed to be cleaned an aired out, as I, lowered the windows. Glancing to the passenger seated next to me, I wondered if this street-guy would work out, be more, share things with me, or if when the yard and landscaping stuff was done, he'd just make his way on the road?