Spinning Wheels

When Brian sat down on the floor in front of the couch to watch the fake fireplace in action, he found his favorite drink - alcoholic no less - and his favorite crackers laid out for him. This pleasant surprise sent chills through his body. Something special was up, he suspected. Actually he knew that, but he had no idea what it was. He had tried guessing in these circumstances but that had not proved fruitful, so he knew he had to wait. Justin was puttering around the kitchen but he soon joined Brian in their accustomed position. Brian had decided that he was not going to start the discussion.

"Did you know that next week is my dad's birthday?" Justin began, "I miss him, Brian." "I know you do," Brian replied, "But you're getting over his death pretty well, I think. You're just showing how tough you can be, not that everybody didn't know that already."

"You know that he left me pretty well off financially, with the big life insurance policy and the huge settlement from the accident," Justin continued. "Yeah, and I know he fixed it so you can't touch the principal till you're twenty-five, when you'll be mature enough to make wise decisions - maybe," Brian retorted. "But I do get the interest and with what's coming in from Rage I'm not hurting for income," Justin maintained.

"Sunshine darling, you are up to something," Brian accused him, "Because you insisted, I am letting you pay half of our household expenses. I didn't like that but I went along with you. You wanted to pay rent for part of the loft, and I absolutely refused, and you gave up on that - as much as you ever give up on anything. If you are going to bring that up again, I think I'll strangle you or maybe just spank you for being the little monster you can be."

"You hurt my feelings, Brian," Justin pretended to pout, "You know when I make an agreement I stick to it." "Well, I guess I do know that," Brian admitted smilingly, "But I also know you've got something up your sleeve. I'm just going to sip my drink and munch my crackers until you come out with it. You'll get no help from me and you're not going to wear me down before you spring your surprise." "And you say I'm tough," Justin mused. There was a period of silence after that, presumably for the pair to plot their strategies.

Finally Justin decided to go for broke. "Do not interrupt me, Brian, till I get finished," he said, "In honor of my dad's birthday, I want to get a car. He promised me I could have a car when I went to Dartmouth, but by the time I graduated from the academy, you know how things were. But we got back together before he died, thanks to you, and I know he'd want me to have my own car. It's the least I can do to honor his memory, and he left me plenty of money to do it, so I want to get a car. What do you think?"

Brian kept his smile inside when he answered, "What does it matter what I think? You're an adult. You've got the money. Why does it matter what I think?" Justin wrapped his arms around Brian's neck. Brian liked that and Justin knew it.

"What you think always matters to me." Justin responded, "You know that and you're putting me on. Don't you see how much easier life will be if I have my own car? You won't have to drive me places or lend me your car sometimes. Daphne's had her own car for years and she's just my age."

"Daphne has more sense than you do and she still used her car to help you stalk me," Brian told him, "But why do you think I might not want you to get your own car? It seems to me that 's what you're thinking." "Because sometimes you act like an old man," Justin said, sheepishly.

Brian laughed, "But I am an old man. What would you expect from an old man? If you didn't want an old man around, why didn't you chase some twink, or even better just stand still and let some twink catch you? You know I advised you to do that." "I got just the guy I wanted, and I've never regretted that for one second, until maybe now," Justin responded.

"Well you think you know me so well," Brian told him, "You blew it this time. You've wasted a lot of effort, Sweetheart. I think you should have your own car if you want one."

Justin kissed Brian. "You're the greatest, Brian. That's why I love you. I know just what I want, too. A little tiny red two-seater that goes from 0 to 100 in 5 seconds," he shouted. Justin was smiling broadly now, but Brian wasn't.

"A tiny red two-seater that goes from 0 to 100 in 5 seconds?" Brian repeated, "Why a tiny red two-seater that goes from 0 to 100 in 5 seconds? Why a car that I probably won't fit into? Why a car that I'll be worried about while I'm sitting alone at home till midnight wondering where the hell you are?"

"Gee Whiz, Brian," Justin answered, "You sound like you don't want me to have the car I want. It would really impress the crowd at school. Everyone would want to go riding with me." "Oh, so you're going to be looking for some good-looking guy - or maybe girl - to go riding with, are you?" Brian suggested.

"You'll be safer if it's a girl," Justin taunted. "And so will you be if it's a girl I see you with," Brian pointed out, "But that's not the safety I'm really concerned about. Small cars are dangerous. Are you mad because I want you to be safe?"

"No," Justin replied, "I'm glad you want me to be safe. I'm very glad that you care that much about me." "You know I do, you monster," Brian told him. "But I like being reminded," Justin cooed

.

"OK," Brian said, "Let's forget about the car until tomorrow. You know I'd rather you picked a sturdier car, but it's your decision and you have to make it. You didn't ask my permission to buy the car and you don't need it."

"That's what I thought I was doing," Justin thought to himself.

"How old would your father have been on this birthday?" Brian asked Justin. "Forty-four," Justin responded. "Then he was twelve years older than me," Brian said, "And I'm about twelve years older than you. Kind of odd, isn't it?"

"You guys were a lot alike too," Justin said, "He always wanted me to do the right thing, just like you do. You would have really liked him, Brian." "I think I would have," Brian agreed, "I wonder how he got you to do the right thing." "Well, I guess his percentage was just about the same as yours," Justin allowed.

"Too bad we never got the chance to team up on you," Brian smiled at Justin. "Ouch," Justin thought of that possibility, but he was very sorry it would never happen.

They sat in silence for a while. Justin was thinking about his dad and Brian did not want to intrude. Then Brian reached for a cracker and they were all gone. "You are a monster," he yelled at Justin. You put out four times as many of those crackers as I eat at one time. Then you got me into that discussion and I ate them all. I'll have to spend three extra hours at the gym. And I don't even think I talked you out of the little red two-seater that goes from 0 to 100 in 5 seconds."

"Yes, you did, Hon," Justin told him. "You won that battle. You always win, but that's OK with me cause I love you and want you to be happy."

"Is this a trap?" Brian inquired.

"Now you're hurting my feelings again. People sacrifice for people they love, and every time I do, you suspect something. You have no sentiment in your heart, Brian Kinney. You're mean. But I still want you to come with me when I pick my new car," Justin responded.

"Well I'll come with you if you want me to, because two heads are better than one," Brian agreed, "But I really don't want to influence your choice."

"Who said anything about influencing my choice?" Justin answered, "With all those crackers you've been eating, I just want to make sure you will fit inside."

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