A short story
By DA
It was Wednesday, the day before my parent’s anniversary and Columbus Day holiday back in the islands. As usual at 6:30 am, my very good friend and co-worker to whom I have bestowed the honor of calling Ms. Conscience and my very best friend and personal trainer, Diesel did our usual 6k run along the west side of the island known as the Cable Beach strip.
I had so many things to do, the barber, the cleaners, last minute items at work and last but not least dealing with a situation with Nolan, a youngness I was dating before I caught up with my crew at 2 pm for a four day mini jump off to Washington D.C. It was the last holiday before Christmas and we intended on taking full use of this weekend frolicking, partying and being mischievous as us boys do.
Diesel was waiting patiently outside my office building on Harold Road and as usual I was running late but it pays to know the ticket agent who processed me quickly in order to make the Delta flight to Atlanta. We would be in transit in Atlanta for about an hour and a half before we boarded Delta again bound for Washington D.C. I caught up with Cousin and his better half Reds in the departure lounge cocktail bar just moments before the gate ticket agent announced the commencement of boarding for flight 717. This would be Cousin and Reds first time visiting the capital. We boarded, got settled in and after take off I put on my earphones and listed to Patti Labelle as she took me to higher place of peace and sleep.
The stopover in Atlanta went by so quickly especially since the eye candy traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson had our necks going from left to right as if we were in physical therapy from a neck injury. The flight landed at Reagan National at 6:55 pm and the pre-arranged livery car took us to the Park Hyatt, our residence in the city. Upon arrival at the hotel, Litho the bellman, greeted us and took our bags as Ana, a guest relations representative booked us into our rooms. Strangely enough, my room number was the same as my original flight. As I threw myself across the king size bed , I zipped out my cell and called an old college mate of mine that worked for this hotel chain and set a date to meet up tomorrow night. Soon afterwards, I heard a knocking at the door. It was Litho with my bag. I gave him a tip and we discussed possible sites to see and he gave me his number supposedly in case I got lost. How nice of him but I knew what he meant and the glimmer in his eyes was confirmation. He was a very attractive bald headed East Indian.
Three rooms down the corridor were Cousin and Reds. We had previously decided to meet downstairs in the lobby at 8:30 pm for dinner at the Melrose in the hotel. After a well deserved dinner even though the portions were small we headed out and walked the strip of Dupont Circle taking in the views and stopping into some shops. We couldn’t resist paying a friendly visit to the book store and proceeded straight through the black curtain at the back where the good stuff was to be had. Surprisingly, I came across a video jacket that happened to catch my attention mainly because it had a friend of mine from California on it. I was so surprised that right then I called Rozier, my first love in California and left a message on his phone to let him know that I wasn’t aware that Oden was doing porn flicks now. Oden was a charity case that Rozier adopted to try and set on the right path to freedom from Welfare and Section Eight. That was just too much excitement for me all at one with so many thoughts going through my head. Cousin and Reds were ready to go where boys go so we left the store and hailed a taxi that took us to the southeast district.
Once we got in the district we opted for the smoke infested dimly lit “Wet” go-go boy bar but it was more like a candy store for us so the smoke was not a hindrance as our eyes were bulging at the bulges right before us at on the bar. It was like boys to men up in there of every hue and body builds taking up every crevice of the joint. From appetizers to a four course meal -- one could go to market and have a feast and still be hungry. The deejay had the music primed and on point pumping Prince’s “Cream” through the speaker. Cousin and Reds each on the side had a few momentary lapses and winks at times forgetting that they were out together. All I could do was smile as it was quite amusing watching both of them play it off. Cousin pinched me so hard to get my attention as this fine slim six-packed brother was stepping onto the small side stage and began to work the pole. My distraction from the main stage was side tracked for a minute as I watched this dancer greased and straddled that pole then slid down on it and ended up with is legs in the split. Cousin showed his appreciation with a twenty spot in the front of his g-string. Cousin, like his men slim built and sexy and at that very moment he was sizzling in temperature and in draws. I returned to the main stage to watch this tall fine specimen of man do his routine in the on-stage shower. There’s something about water droplets on a sculptured able bodied man that sets my hormones raging in the wrong direction upstairs and downstairs. This tasty looking chocolate bar of a man was about to get my money when incidentally this short, dark and incredibly handsome denim clad brother spilled his drink and I was the recipient of the residue. To say I was upset was an understatement but Gill was a gentleman about it and apologized and offered to have it cleaned. It turned out that Gill, a native New Yorker was visiting the capital on business as well and enjoying the treats of what the city had to offer. He offered to buy me a drink and I accepted and we talked for a bit, had a few libations and then our talk turned into flirting and flirting turned into a meeting of bodies at the Hyatt.
Early Thursday morning Gill left at 6am and I slept in until noon. I was feeling damn good when I got up ordered breakfast and then called Cousin. They had already eaten breakfast and were having seconds of another kind. I called Litho and asked him to call the livery service so that we go shopping at the Mall at Pentagon City across the bridge in Virginia. We spent most of our time in Kenneth Cole spending some change and then some. The designer Kenneth Cole himself was in the boutique that day giving us some what to wear tips. After lunch in the mall we decided to hit up the Gap. Now everyone knows that the Gap always has some pretty boy sales associates and we would have been remised if we didn’t partake of palette of favors so readily available to wait on us. I headed towards a rack that had black and brown leather pants with security wire and a lock on its base and started to browse. Over comes a cute brown skin youngness named Darryl with dreadlocks. Suffice to say I brought the black leather pants and I got the digits and a date for lunch.
By five we were through shopping and decided to drop the packages off at the hotel and Cousin and Reds decided to take advantage of their room until dinner at seven thirty. My college mate, Sears came over at six and we had drinks in the lobby piano bar and played fill in the blanks. I was happy to see him and found out he now had three children with his beautiful wife Maureen and things couldn’t have been better other than winning the lottery. Cousin and Reds met us downstairs at the bar and made the necessary introductions. Just before Sears left it was agreed that he would be our guest at dinner tomorrow at the Daily Bar & Grill on M street. We had dinner at a steakhouse about three blocks down from the hotel near a club called Rumors. After dinner, Gill picked us up from the hotel and we hit the southeast district clubs hard that night. We spent some time at the Nation, Wet, a strip club around the corner called Lexus and then capped off the night at the famous bookstore. Gill spent the night but this time we explored each other in the shower before getting into bed and ordering room service. After our pre dawn snack I did some snacking of my own and the remnants of my labor were spilled all over his chest. We became good friends over the years.
I didn’t realize I had opened the curtains that night to view Washington’s skyline and when I rolled over and opened my eyes the sunlight spilled into the room nearly blinding me and it took a minute for my eyes to adjust. Forty year old Gill looked so peaceful lying on his stomach with his back exposed. I pulled the covers back and took in the view, it was absolutely magnificent. He was five feet seven, of dark complexion with a tight muscular body. He looked good for his age plus a brother had skills. He racked up quite a few points with me last night. He spent Friday morning with me before he had to leave to catch his flight, which worked out fine as I had a late lunch date with Darryl.
I met Darryl for lunch at three in the afternoon at the Georgetown Park Mall. Cousin and Reds walked through downtown Georgetown taking in the sites and shopping while I was on my date. Actually, lunch was better than I had expected. Darryl was twenty-one, in college at Howard University and worked at the Gap part time. He was sharp and quite knowledgeable and conversation was good. He was charmer and when he smiled that contagious smile his eye brows would meet. That was neat to me. We passed first base on that date and exchanged personal information and numbers for each other. I caught up with Cousin and Reds at the music store in Georgetown and bought Madonna’s new CD titled “Music”.
Sears met us for dinner that night at the Daily Bar & Grill and Cousin took over the conversation from start to finish. He seemingly found Sears attractive as he was a good looking slim brother around five feet nine that did not swing on our side of the fence. Reds and I amused ourselves with conversation of our stay thus far. Around nine Sears left to catch his train to the suburbs where he stayed and we took a cab to the old navy shipyard where the Mill was located.
The Mill would forever be etched in our memories. Cousin and Reds have never ever before seen so many good looking men in one club on two floors. They disappeared once we got our first drink so I wandered over to the downstairs bar, sat on the bar stool and witnessed mostly scantly clad patrons dancing and swaying to the house and techno beat the deejay was putting down. Back where were from we only hear the latest R&B being played; it takes awhile before we catch up with most things in the islands. For me to hear this type of music was so refreshing. I actually liked it, it went well with my gin and tonic and soon afterwards the music took over my senses completely and this brother had to put foot to hardwood and dance. I got up and maneuvered my frame between all the patrons dancing and found a spot to groove amongst all my beautiful people. I danced to about four songs all by myself although one or two people thought they could invade my space.
I needed a refill and proceeded towards the bar. Reds was ordering a drink and talking to a patron so I just hailed him and ordered mine. As I about to pay for the drink the bartender told me it was covered and I was like is that so. I asked the bartender who my benefactor was and I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I turned around, I had to look up as this brown skinned brother was like six five and at least two hundred and twenty pounds. He was very confident and immediately introduced himself as Ptate (pronounced p-tate). I thanked him for the drink and offered to buy him one but he refused and said he doesn’t drink and work at the same time. That confused me for a second but then he explained that he’s the deejay. He said that he saw me enjoying myself by myself on the dance floor. I asked if it was a crime and he retaliated by saying yes if it’s not with him. Ten points he scored right there for that confident comeback. Hence, for the rest of the evening Cousin and Reds could not find me as I was hanging out in the deejay booth enjoying the music, the company and climbing Jacob’s ladder.
Reds finally located me and I came out of the booth. He looked concerned so I asked if everything is okay and he told me he could not find Cousin. Letting Cousin loose in a candy jar club full of handsome men was Reds first mistake. I helped him look for Cousin, he went one way and I went the upstairs and on the outside deck. Reds did not know about the deck. I found Cousin on the deck in the corner kissing on this man with so much fervor; it took me a second to catch myself. I politely intruded in that mix and pulled Cousin aside and let him know what the score was with Reds. He needed to wrap up that kiss, fix his hard on and go to his man. I told him where I would be in the club and if they needed to go I’ll get a ride at the hotel. He caught up with Reds and everything seemed to be going smooth so they stayed until Ptate time was up.
Ptate dropped us at the hotel around two thirty in the am and I invited him up for coffee and a late night snack. The night was beautiful so again I pulled the drapes, ordered room service and he sat in the chair and I lay across the bed and talked until sunrise before we wrapped up under the covers and went to sleep. The experience of just cuddling was so right; I was like a teddy bear in his big frame. We got up around eleven o’clock took separate showers and had breakfast. This experience was such a rush for me and I felt like I’d finally met quality and substance at the same time. There was no mention of sex although I could feel the heat as we lay during our repose.
It was Saturday and before Ptate left at noon he altered our plans for the day. Apparently, this weekend was the Gay/Lesbian Film Festival in Washington D.C. and he possessed extra VIP passes to attend the premiere of Patrick Polk film “Punks” and the Absolute Vodka after party. We never went to a premiere before so we headed right back to the Mall at Pentagon City and shopped for appropriate attire and have lunch. At four we decided to kick back and have tea and crumpets in Cousin’s room and then I begged an excuse that I was tired and needed to put in a power nap before Ptate was scheduled to collect us at six thirty.
I was really enthuse about tonight as Ptate really took me off guard and it made me think in addition to proving to me that not all brothers on the dating scene have lost chivalry. I looked over at him as he drove, he was tall, calm in demeanor, nonchalant in attitude and speech, extremely intelligent and knowledgeable but most of all he seemed sincere when he told me he finds me attractive and wanted to get to know me on a long term basis. The operative word in his narrative was “long” not hook up and run. This manly man really was racking up the points without even knowing it. Inside the lobby of the premiere he introduced us to Ron Simmons, the Executive Director of Us Helping Us, the organization that was organizing the festival. We had a great time viewing the movie and the after party. Afterwards we all went including Donnie, a good friend of his to Annie’s for a late dinner. We had a swell of a time in Annie’s. We ended the night dropping everyone off and he took me to his apartment where I spent the night and all day and night Sunday.
It was now Monday, the day I have to return to the islands. I did not want to go but Ptate said that this is not good bye as he will soon see me later. He took me to the hotel, waited until I packed and we all checked out and then took us to the airport. As he took my bags out of the car and handed them to me, I extended my hand to shake his. He looked offended and in one swoop he picked me up and kissed me so passionately in front of all those people I was gasping for breath. I was embarrassed and right then I did not know why, maybe because everyone I’ve ever dated was reserved with their public affection. He obviously didn’t have a problem with his open expression of emotion. Cousin and Reds were in shock just as much as I was and the stares from onlookers to tell the truth were quite amusing. Ptate looked at me and told me that he will call me and with that he left.
I was on cloud nine, no longer battling the waves to find that rare something special. My diamond was not rough around the edges rather smooth to the touch and its brilliance lingered in my thoughts and heart until November fourth when I would return.
