On the Waterfront

Things looked as usual in the loft. The flames were jumping in the fake fireplace as the guys located themselves into position on the floor facing them. What was not usual was that the guys knew exactly what they were going to talk about once they got settled.

"I'll go, Brian," Justin told the big guy. "You want me to go and it would be better if I go. So what if I don't much care for the company. You'll be there and that's enough for me."

"And what about the sea-sickness?" Brian wanted to know.

"I'll get something from Dr. Marshall to take before we sail," Justin postulated. "I don't know why I get sea sick on the river, Bri, but if I have to throw up, I'll throw up over the side and you have to hold onto me so I don't go overboard."

"I'll bet you aren't really seasick at all, Baby," Brian thought out loud. "Nobody can get seasick on the Monongahela or the Allegheny. And their boat is one of the biggest in Pittsburgh. I think the Mallards make you sick. You don't like the Mallards."

"No, I don't like the Mallards," Justin agree, "But I got seasick once on the Gateway Clipper when my fourth grade class went on a field trip up the river so I think I do get seasick. But the Mallards sure don't help. I don't think they understand what you see in me at all. Maybe they just don't understand 'gay.' But they're important clients of yours so I guess I can stand a three-hour trip on their damn boat every year or so. I haven't died yet."

"Well don't try that as a method of getting out of any future cruises either," Brian ordered him. "Like I said before, I want you around for a long time. I'd much rather have you around than have the Mallards as clients."

"Gee whiz, Brian," Justin teased. "That's a really romantic thing to say."

"Well you know how romantic I am, Baby," Brian came back at him. "I can't help it if I'm a hopeless romantic, can I?"

"And I don't want you to quit being so hopelessly romantic either, Bri," Justin concluded. "That's what I love so much about you. How romantic you are. That's why I'm going on this crazy annual boat ride."

"Mrs. Mallard told Cynthia that she's having spaghetti this year, JT." Brian announced, trying to cheer the kid up. "That ought to make you feel a little better about going to sea, Sweetheart."

"If you had ever been seasick, Kinney," Justin told him. "You'd know how little importance food has at that point. Just gives you something to throw up."

"Well, Mrs. Mallard will send you home with a doggie bag, I bet," Brian consoled him, "So you'll be able to enjoy the spaghetti the next day. Mrs. Mallard is a good cook."

"No way of knowing that, Bri," Justin informed him. "All we know from these boat trips is that she knows how to call the caterer."

"Well, she's good at calling the caterer," Brian re-phrased.

"She is that," Justin agreed. "And she's a good caterer picker too. I'll give her that too."

"And maybe whatever Dr. Marshall gives you will work and you'll be able to enjoy the spaghetti on-board," Brian conjectured. "You know what though, Baby, maybe you shouldn't have seconds. You don't want to tempt the sea-sickness by overeating."

"Don't worry, Mr. Kinney," Justin assured him. "I won't embarrass you. The Mallards don't like me anyhow. And I don't want to eat up my own doggie bag either."

"You don't like the Mallards, Sunshine," Brian pointed out, "But I don't think they dislike you at all. Remember, Mrs. Mallard always sends you home with that doggie bag. I think you might be right that they just don't understand 'gay.'"

"Could be," Justin conceded. "I'll enjoy myself, Bri, because I love you so much."

That stopped the discussion for a while. The guys just sat, enjoying each other's presence.

After this too brief hiatus, Justin resumed the conversation. "You didn't say anything, Bri, so I suppose the Swanns will be there too," He postulated.

"Yeah," Brian confirmed. "They're invited - so Swann and his cigar will be there - as usual. Maybe you ought to take a double-dose of whatever Dr. Marshall gives you. That smoke won't help your sea-sickness if you get it."

"I'm tough, Brian," Justin assured him. "Whatever happens, I'll deal with it. I will."

"There's just one more thing though, Baby," Brian said. "Remember the Herrings who came a couple of years ago. They're going to be with us again this year."

"Is she the one who sings those terrible folk songs with her own awful guitar accompaniment?" Justin hoped not.

"Yep," Brian delivered the bad news. "Them's the ones. Mr. Herring sings too, you know."

"Gee whiz, Bri," Justin concluded. "We're in for a really great time - at sea with the Mallards, the Swanns and the Herrings. Too bad the Trouts can't come too. But we'll get through it - because we can do anything together - and we may be the only gay couple there, but we sure won't be the odd couple - not among that bunch."

"Maybe you should have a triple dose of Dr. Marshall's medication," Brian proposed.

"Nah," Justin decided, "But maybe some nose plugs and some ear plugs might be in order. I won't bring them though, Bri. I'll just suffer. I love you and I need to support you in your professional life."

"OK, Baby," Brian grinned happily at him. "You've made your point. I'm responsible for all your pain and suffering. OK, I'll take the blame - but maybe I'll try to think of some way to repay you. I might be able to do that."

"Bet you could if you really tried," Justin agreed, snuggling close enough to Brian to initiate another quiet period in the loft - longer than the last one but alas - not long enough.

"Brian," Justin said. "Would you be upset if I fell overboard and swam to shore if things get too bad?'

"Yeah I would," Brian replied. "I would be very upset. I might even forbid you to fall overboard - let me think about that - but in any case - if you do by some accident fall overboard, I'm going to jump in and try to save you. I'm not staying on that boat by myself"

"Gee whiz, Brian," Justin reacted. "You'd drown if you jumped in - unless I was able to save you. So I reluctantly have to forbid you to jump in and try to save me."

"Maybe I will and maybe I won't," Brian hedged, "But if you make such a cowardly escape, I don't guess that I'll have to try to repay you for your pain and suffering either."

"OK, Kinney," Justin surrendered without rancor. "You win. I'll just suffer in silence."

"You know what I think, Baby," Brian suggested, "If we could have more silence around here right now, maybe we could have a lot less suffering."

"Sounds like it's worth a try," Justin concurred.

It was.

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