A Failure to Communicate

It was not apparent from the outside temperature but the calendar signaled the approaching end of summer as the guys settled themselves down on the floor of the loft one evening to gaze at the flames of their “all-seasons” fake fireplace - while also still enjoying the pleasure of their air-conditioning.

“You didn’t tell me - so how was I supposed to know?” Brian was complaining. “That was why I told Linz and Mel that we would be in town for Labor Day this year – and that’s why they scheduled their annual garden party for the right day….”

“Which turns out not to be the right day at all – even if it is Labor Day and that’s what we’re celebrating - because you told Brandon early this summer that we would spend this weekend in Boston with them….” Justin reminded him – again.

“I told Brandon in June that we would fly up to Boston with them for the weekend of September 5th and 6th ,” Brian maintained. “How should I know that was gonna be the Labor Day weekend? Him and Jason are spending the whole next week up there at some conference that Brandon has to go to – but we were just gonna stay the weekend before and do a little sight-seeing…. You knew about it since June and you never said anything either….”

“Well Labor Day is like – always the first Monday of September, Bri,” Justin countered, “So you maybe could have known - and I think you just told me it was some weekend in September that we were scheduled for Boston so….”

“And you didn’t ask either, Taylor,” Brian grouched. “And you knew all the time that Labor Day comes in September. That’s the kind of stuff you know. You were just hoping that something would go wrong – because it was me who decided that we’d go – and not you. You like to think I can’t plan anything right….”

“You know what, BK. We could have gone – Labor Day or not – we’ve been out of town on Labor Day before - but then you had to tell the munchers that we would be in town for Labor Day….” Justin reminded him, “So they scheduled their party for then – and they really want us to be there – and so does Gus. They could have held it the next weekend – like they always did before when we were going to be away....”

“So we had to take Gus to school for his first day last year and we had to stay in town - and I just thought….” Brian defended himself. “How was I supposed to know it was different this year…?”

“Well you could have asked me,” Justin laughed, “Or you could have asked Gus – or Linz – or Mel – or just about anybody….”

“He doesn’t want anybody to take him to school on the first day this year?” Brian recalled. “Not like last year? I don’t get it.”

”It’s just that Gus is getting to be a big kid now, Bri,” Justin was still laughing. “He’d be mortified to have his friends know he had to have somebody like - take him to school….”

“Seems to me I remember that I once took you to school, Sweetheart - the morning after I first met you,” Brian remembered with a broad grin. “And you were a big kid then….”

“And I was mortified too, Kinney,” Justin grinned back. “I guess I was a pretty big kid too….”

“You were a pretty kid all right,” Brian agreed, “But maybe not all that big….”

And that exchange brought about a pause in the discussion at just this point – with the basic issue still seemingly unresolved – and the guys did not seem to be in any great rush to deal with that situation either. Still – eventually – the conversation did resume.

“Well what are we gonna do about this business, Baby?” Brian returned to the dilemma. “We can’t be in Pittsburgh and Boston at the same time so….”

“I was talking to Jason, Bri,” Justin replied, “And I asked him if he thought maybe they could spend the weekend after the conference touring historical Boston – instead of the weekend before. Then we could join them for the next weekend without missing Linz’ party - and he thought that might be OK….”

“Geez, Baby,” Brian seemed surprised. “Great minds must work in the same direction. I asked Brandon the exact same thing but he wasn’t so sure….”

“I can’t see any problem with that solution, Brian,” Justin wondered. “What’s Brandon’s problem?”

“Well he’ll be at some meetings during the week,” Brian explained, “And Jason will be like – all on his own. Brandon was hoping Jason would get the feel of Boston the weekend before with us….”

“So Jason is a big kid now too, Brian,” Justin laughed. “He should be able to do a little bit of touring on his own – but he actually - when I talked to him- he didn’t seem so sure….”

“And you’d be willing to assure Brandon that Jason wouldn’t get lost – or do some other dumb thing, JT?” Brian laughed back at him. “Knowing Jason as well as you do….”

“Well maybe not,” Justin reconsidered his position. “I don’t know if I’d want to take on that particular responsibility. But I guess it’s nice that Brandon is so concerned about Jason’s safety though. I bet that you wouldn’t….”

“You know what, Baby,” Brian decided to interrupt. “Maybe we should just tell Linz and Mel and Gus that we gotta miss the garden party this year and then just go to Boston. The girls will understand – and it would be better than having Jason captured by the redcoats or some unfriendly Indians – and knowing what I know about Jason, that could….”

“Sorry, Bri,” Justin grinned as he returned the interruption. “Great solution – but too late. It won’t work. I talked to Mel and Linz. They don’t know Brandon and Jason all that well, you know…. But I got them to invite those guys to the garden party anyhow and Jason and Brandon are all excited about that – so they won’t be wanting to go to Boston that week-end either….”

“So you had this damn problem all solved before we even sat down here, Taylor,” Brian complained, “But you wouldn’t tell me that. You just let me worry. That’s called a failure to communicate. That’s what it’s called….”

“I don’t think you were ever all that worried, Brian Kinney,” Justin grinned at him. “You expected me to solve the problem – and you knew I would too – because I always solve all the problems you get us into….”

“Yeah, you think you do all right,” Brian came back, “But there’s still the problem of Jason being on his own in Boston for a whole week before we get there. When we get there, we’ll probably have to help the police up there look for him….”

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin was still grinning. “After all these years you still don’t know that when I fix something, it stays fixed. There’s this kid, Charlie Becker, over at the Institute. Charlie has a sister who works in Boston and she’s willing to show Jason some of the sights while Brandon is in meetings….”

“So Jason will be safe,” Brian presumed, also with a grin, “And Brandon will be able to attend to his business up there with an unworried mind. Bet he’s glad to know that….”

“He will be, Mr. Kinney,” Justin informed him, “When you tell him about it….”

“You mean Jason and Brandon don’t know about your wonderful solution yet?” Brian seemed surprised. “Like – for once – I am not the last one to know something…?”

“Nope,” Justin told him. “They don’t know yet. I wanted them to think you solved the problem. And Jason even knows Charlie’s sister a little bit cause she was here visiting last winter and he met her. Things will all go off very well, I’m sure….”

“There’s like – absolutely no chance that anybody will ever think I figured this out, Kiddo,” Brian laughed – cuddling the twink up closer to himself. “They know me and they know you – so there’s no chance…. And, you know what else - maybe we ought to just let you do all the planning for us from now on – even if you do tend not to always communicate real clearly….”

“Whatever you say, Kinney,” Justin did some cuddling of his own. “Even if you are obviously the better communicator around here….”

And Brian was also right then in the process of demonstrating that there were some areas where there was never a chance of these two guys having any failure to communicate – which seemed to satisfy them both.
 

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