Just the Two of Us

"It won't be the same," Justin was complaining to Brian as they sat close together in front of the fake fireplace.

"We have always spent Labor Day with the whole gang. I'm glad we're all getting together at Mel and Linz' the next Sunday but Labor Day will seem kind of empty. This is not going to be a very exciting Labor Day at all."

"You'll have me, Baby," Brian reminded him. "Can't we figure out some way to enjoy the holiday with just the two of us? Mel has to be in New Orleans for that convention, and it makes sense for Linz and Gus to go along.

We can go to Point Park if you want to."

"Everyday's a holiday when there's just the two of us," Justin smiled at him, "And you know I love to have you all to myself. But I like the excitement of the whole crowd on Labor Day. That doesn't mean we won't have a great time ourselves. I don't think I want to go to Point Park though, unless you really want to."

"Well then, you know what, Sunshine," Brian told him, "Cynthia made a suggestion when she heard we might not have our Labor Day party this year. She said I should take you to New York for the weekend."

"And I'll bet you thought that was a great idea, and you made all the arrangements, and we're going to New York, and I have nothing to say about it," Justin laughed, "Right?"

"I guess partly right," Brian admitted. "I did make all the arrangements without telling you, but I think you'll have something to say about it. You usually have something to say about just about everything. And you have veto power too. We won't go if you don't want to."

"I love you, Brian. That's what I have to say about this. You're the greatest guy in the world and you're always taking care of me. Of course I want to go. Now what did Cynthia decide for us to do in New York, Bri?" Justin asked, "Or can't I know that either."

"Cynthia made some of the arrangements, Smart Guy," Brian grinned at him, "But I was involved too, and I can prove it."

"Prove it then," Justin challenged him.

"OK," Brian took the dare. "The hotel we're staying in is the one where I found you when you ran away and I had to chase you up there to bring you back"

"You're kidding, Bri," Justin exclaimed. "You have to be kidding."

"No, I'm not, Sweetheart," Brian replied, "And they're saving the same room for us too. I don't think you can claim that Cynthia did that."

"You remembered the room number?" Justin wondered out loud.

"I remembered the room number," Brian told him.

"Now that's really romantic, Brian. Maybe this Labor Day is not going to turn out so bad after all," Justin told him. "You know, I never left the room the last time I was in that hotel."

"Well you're going to this time. Cynthia got us reservations for a couple of dinners in some fancy restaurants and we're going to a couple of shows too," Brian told him. "I hope that won't disappoint you."

"No, it won't," Justin laughed. "We were just courting the last time but now we're an old established couple. Do you think it will be all-you-can-eat night at the restaurants?"

"So we were courting the last time, were we? You're really getting into the spirit of this trip now, Baby," Brian laughed back at him. "But you can forget the needling. I'm kind of looking forward to this and you're not going to ruin it for me. I intend to have a great time."

"And I'm going to have a great time too," Justin agreed, "Mostly because I'm going to be with you. And I promise to be on my best behavior at the fancy restaurants."

"I picked the shows too, Honey," Brian bragged. "I know how you love Wizard of Oz so we're going to see Wicked which is about the characters in the Wizard."

"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Brian," Justin said, "It might spoil Wizard of Oz for me if it's too different from the movie."

"It's not the same as the movie, Sweetheart. It just has some of the same characters. It's supposed to be a good show and it sells out regularly," Brian replied. "Why would it spoil Wizard for you."

"Well," Justin explained, "I have all the characters from the movie in my mind and I'll bet real live actors can't be as good as the movie ones. I think they might be too realistic for me. How could some live actor play a munchkin, Brian?"

"I'll bet they can," Brian maintained. "I'm sure there are real actors who can play munchkins. I'll bet Malcolm could. I'll bet you could too, Baby. I think you'd be a terrific munchkin. Actually sometimes you do remind me of a munchkin."

"Well that's something you're never going to see," Justin laughed, "Me playing a munchkin. But if Malcolm ever does the play in Pittsburgh, maybe you could play the Wizard. You are kind of a wizard, you know."

"I think I told you that my stage career is over forever," Brian reminded him. "There's as much chance of me playing the Wizard as there is of you playing a munchkin."

"I love you, Brian," Justin whispered as he laid his head on Brian's shoulder.

It was a while before the silence was broken.

"Brian," Justin said, "Let's do all the touristy things while we're in New York."

"Like what?" Brian wanted to know.

"Oh, the Empire State Building, the Staten Island ferry, bicycles in Central Park, that kind of thing," Justin told him.

"You've been to New York lots of times with your folks," Brian wondered, "Won't all that be old stuff for you?"

"I've done it all before, Bri," Justin admitted, "But I've never done those things with you. It's always different when I do things with you. I guess that sounds crazy."

"Actually, it doesn't sound crazy at all, Sunshine," Brian told him, "I know exactly what you're talking about. Having you around make things different for me too."

Brian pulled the kid a little closer and the talk stopped for a while.

As usual, it was Justin who broke the silence. "Brian," he said, "I think this is going to be the best Labor Day of my life."

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