New Year in New York

A few days into the new year of 2011, Brian and Justin finally had the chance to sit themselves down into their customary positions on the floor of the loft. Justin was voicing a rare complaint.

“I told you we were gonna get snowed in if we went to New York, Brian Kinney,” he pointed out, “and that’s exactly what happened too….”

“So I guess we were due for some snow after that dry December, Babe,” Brian reasoned. “But it was a hell of a storm all right. The airports were closed both here and there so we just couldn’t get out. We had a pretty good time though, I thought. The New Year’s Eve party went well and with that TV connection, it was just like we were in Pittsburgh. Then when we couldn’t get home we saw that new hit musical in a nearly empty theater – and we got to see Rick and Shawn tape an episode of their soap opera. Dave is a pretty good host and I think you made him feel guilty…..”

“Did not either, Brian,” Justin denied the accusation. “If he was feeling guilty it was because he talked us into going up there in the first place…..”

“Seems like you agreed to go up, Sweetheart,” Brian remembered. “I had no opinion as I recall….”

“Oh you wanted to go all right, Kinney,” Justin returned an accusation. “But you like – never express an opinion - so you can’t be blamed if things don’t go right…..”

“Well I don’t think that strategy works very well either, Sunshine,” Brian grinned at him. “Now being a case in point….”

“I missed the New Year reception at the Institute, Brian,” Justin told him. “And….”

“And you missed dancing to Guy Lombardo CDs with Mrs. Wallace Wamper who is the wife of the Chairman of the Board over there – and incidentally is also supposed to be a dead ringer for Marilyn Monroe. Wait till next year, Baby. It’ll be here before you know it….”

“But not before, a week from Saturday, Brian,” Justin smiled archly. “That’s the evening of the intimate dinner party at the Wampers’ villa out in Fox Chapel. She said to bring my Guy Lombardo CDs so I guess…..”

“Well I’m glad for you – but I’ll have to decide how to spend my lonely Saturday night, Honey,” Brian projected. “Maybe I’ll head over and visit with Mike and Ben….”

“I don’t think so, Kinney,” Justin laughed. “I do think you’re missing the point though. You are definitely invited too. Mrs. Wanper has always wanted to meet you. She says that you must be a really great guy because I’m so nice…. I like – didn’t tell her the truth about you, Bri. I’ll let her figure that out for herself….”

“Geez,” Brian seemed to accept the inevitable. “If I’d known this, I’d have rented a dog-sled and brought you home on the Turnpike behind that team of malamutes - in plenty of time for the damned reception…..”

“Like – you can rent a dog-team at Hertz or Avis, Mr. Kinney?” Justin laughed. “I don’t think so…..”

“Well maybe Dave told me there’s a place on the lower East Side that does rent dog-sleds….” Brian told him.

“You are a crazy person, Brian Kinney,” Justin was still laughing. “But remember - you’d have to rent two dog teams – since you invited Jason and Brandon to come to New York with us….”

“I did not either, Taylor,” Brian complained. “They like – invited themselves. Jason called Wendell and said they’d like to come up with us and there was room on Dave’s little jet so….. And you know what else, Sweetheart – I don’t think you’re nearly as mad as you’re pretending. I think you just want me to….”

“So why don’t you try something if you’re so sure of that, Kinney,” Justin challenged him. “That’s maybe a hypothesis worth testing….”

Brian decided to accept that dare and the pause that ensued seemed to prove his stated hypothesis – just as he thought it would.

“Wanna go out and build our Christmas snowman now, JT?” Brian later suggested, returning to the real world. “There’s plenty of snow….”

“Nah,” Justin replied. “I think I’d rather just sit here with the fireplace – and you too of course. There will be just as much snow tomorrow. We can get an earlier start. Then we can go sledding in the park too….”

“And some of that snow out there will be transformed into hundreds of snow balls by tomorrow too, I suppose,” Brian grinned at him, “Just in case anybody would be foolish enough to attack you….”

“Well a person needs to be careful, Brian,” Justin pointed out. “There are a lot of evil people out there. People who can’t be trusted….”

“Indeed there are,” Brian had to agree – and the discussion trailed off on that agreement.

“It might be better if we didn’t go up to New York any more for New Year’s Eve, Baby,” Brian pointed out, “since being here is so important to you – unless the weather forecast is like – perfect. Maybe you should make that one of your new year’s resolutions. That way we would be sure never to get stuck up there and if it’s a new year’s resolution….”

“I think I detect just a touch of sarcasm in that suggestion, Brian Kinney,” Justin countered suspiciously. “But I’m not gonna fall for it either. Sometimes there are evil people in here too….. Anyhow, I told Dave it was his turn to come to Pittsburgh next year – or we could be here and them there. With that TV hook-up and all….”

“Well since you brought up the subject of new year’s resolutions, Sweetheart,” Brian asked him, “why haven’t you shared ours with me yet? You’re late this year – but I guess with being stuck in New York and all you’re a little behind schedule….”

“But it was not me who brought up the subject of new year’s resolutions at all, Mr. Kinney,” Justin insisted. “And I was not gonna bring up the subject of new year’s resolutions at all either. I have decided to skip them this year….”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Baby,” Brian laughed while squeezing the kid gently. “You were always so nice from January 1, when your resolutions became effective until January 15 – by which you had them all broken. I guess it’s easier just not to make them in the first place though….”

“Well that is not why I decided not to bother this year, BK,” Justin clarified the situation. “It’s just that I couldn’t think of anything for me – since I’ve improved myself so much over the years – and new year’s resolutions for you are like – a lost cause…..”

“Geez, Baby,” Brian feigned surprise. “I really thought you’d never give up. It’s not like you at all – to give up, that is…. Guess as you get older….”

“I don’t see it as giving up at all, Kinney,” Justin rephrased. “Or getting older either. Just more like – facing reality. We should always try to face reality…..”

“So in the spirit of facing reality, JT,” Brian confided. “Maybe I better warn you before our dinner engagement a week from Saturday. I’ve like – always been crazy about Marilyn Monroe. I always thought maybe I’d be straight if I actually knew Marilyn Monroe….”

“You’re telling me that you might get romantically interested in happily married Mrs. Wally Wamper, Brian?” Justin snickered. “Like – I must admit I’m not worried….”

“OK, Mr. Know-It-All,” Brian warned him. “I just thought that in the spirit of fairness I ought to tell you….”

“Brian Kinney,” Justin grinned. “With a lot of guys maybe I wouldn’t want to compete with Marilyn Monroe – but with you I think I can hold my own….”

And Brian thought he probably could.
 

Return to Fireside Chats