Chapter Two

The Welcome Back party gets a little personal.

The Shin-Dig

      The early afternoon sun beamed brightly in the cloudless Sunday sky as the temperatures hit the upper eighties. People walked up and down Telegraph Avenue; a tree lined, four lane street that housed many Asian restaurants and mom & pop pizza shops. Buildings had abstract murals painted on the side that each told a different story. As Kenny, Shawn and Junior walked by one, they began discussing what the meaning behind a flying dragon eating a school bus of guns and explosives was. All painted in purple, green and yellow.

      They passed a Hispanic family with a stroller as they crossed the street still in conversation. Kenny walked in the middle, with his hands in his khaki short pockets. A black tank top lay under a solid yellow button up, which flapped openly against the small breeze. He finished his ensemble with a small straw hat and brown sandals. Shawn walked on his left and wore a basic jeans and white t-shirt with a cartoon Stewie from Family Guy on it, while Junior sported a white fitted tank top and baggy jean shorts with pearl white Sketchers.

      They all wore sunglasses of some kind: Kenny had on the basic dollar store square brand, Shawn had a fitted pair of Men in Black type kind, and Junior had brown lenses, diamond framed with silver framing. By the time they went a few blocks and passed a paint shop, the conversation had turned to Kenny and the new neighbor.

      “What about him?”

      “You couldn’t stop talking about him!” Shawn exclaimed.

      “He’s very attractive, I think, but I don’t really know if he’s even gay.”

      Junior pinched Kenny’s arm.

      “Dude, he gave you his number when he left. Not any of us he was watching football with but you. He pulled you aside to say goodbye personally when he lives across the street from you. Come on now.”

      Kenny just blinked obliviously.

      “He’s gay, Kenny.” Shawn pulled out an electronic cigarette, “Gayer than the day is long. Did you see how he kept smiling at you? Gay.”

      “Whatever,” Kenny sighed dreamily, “This just seems so much like Desperate Housewives.”

      “Oh for f**k’s sake, enough with the Desperate Housewives,” Shawn took a puff, “You think everything in your life is a reenactment of that stupid show.”

      “Or Friends.” Junior added as Kenny groaned.

      “All I am saying is that it just seems too good to be true that this handsome man moves directly across the street. And it’s not a stupid show.”

      “You do realize that he didn’t move there because of you.” Junior said as they stopped at a corner and waited for the walk signal.

      “Well, I get that. But after he left, he didn’t go to any of the other neighbors. Mrs. Barnes? No. Bonnie? No.”

      “I wouldn’t talk to that b***h either.” Shawn snarled.

      “The point is, why did he just come see me and that’s it?”

      “He actually came and said hello and we dragged him to watch football.” Junior corrected as they began walking again in the warm sun. Kenny sighed again.

      “He only had one bag of groceries.”

      “Oh just stop and call the dude already.” Shawn playfully snapped, puffing again, “You have been talking about him since he left. And then for hours on the phone to Tonya.”

      “And came to my place and talked about him there.”

      Kenny blushed and embarrassedly walked a little bit faster than the other two. They called out and caught up, expressing love and admiration for his ability to wear his emotion on his sleeves. But when the conversation changed as they rounded the corner, Junior started picking at Desperate Housewives and why the only black family were the main antagonist. And why no more black people were on the show. Kenny ignored his rants and just rolled his eyes, while Shawn just puffed away.

      Eventually they reached MacArthur Bart Station where Teddy was waiting outside the gate with his TransLink card. Dressed in a small jean jacket over an orange tank top and short jean shorts and head a black headband pulling back his hair. A Halloween bandana was tied around his neck and stuffed inside the top of his tank top. He immediately hugged Kenny and congratulated him on landing a man.

      “They just met, you doofus.” Shawn said.

      “And in gay years that’s already eight months.” Teddy chuckled before whispering to Kenny but loud enough for the guys to hear, “So…did you drop his pants and suck his big black c**k?”

      “Teddy!” Junior yelled as the three of them were buying tickets at the machine.

      “What?”

      “No, I didn’t.” Kenny grabbed his ticket and shook his head, “But don’t think it didn’t cross my mind, though.”

      “Disgusting. There are children around!” Shawn sarcastically hissed.

      “Where?” Teddy asked, spinning in a full circle, “I don’t see any. They better all still be in church.”

      They all entered the station and waited on the platform up top that was sprinkled with a handful of people traveling in each direction. Posters of Wicked, Get Tested and The Nut Cracker were framed on the walls that separated the tracks. A train pulled off into the direction of Richmond as Junior found them all a seat that put the Berkeley and Oakland Hills in view of them. Small boxes of houses littered the gold-green hillside with a nice calmly breeze at their backs. Kenny checked his vibrating cell phone and saw a message from Tonya that her train left Berkeley.

      “Our train is arriving in fifteen minutes.” Teddy repeated as the automated announcer gave the next few trip times going to San Francisco Airport in a five car train.

      “Tonya will be here in five.” Kenny added, stuffing his phone back in his pocket.

      “Good. Is Jerry done with the preparations?” Junior asked, to which Kenny grunted, pulled out his phone again and began texting away.

      Tonya met up with the group and all five of them got on the next train toward San Francisco. She loved to put her hair in a bun when she wore her red romper suit. They encountered a drunk man walking up and down each aisle, yelling and cussing to which Shawn had placed a secret message to the nearest police car to get to the next station and escort the “dangerous person” off. When the train arrived at the Glen Park station, it was two blocks before they approached a white craftsmen style one story house, overlooking the small panhandle of the park. Jerry was far from having the decorations set up. There was only one green streamer half hung in the clean and neat oak inspired living room and a ‘Welcome Back’ sign strung over the kitchen door. The entertainment system and black leather couch sat adjacent to the dining area, which shared a huge open space with a grandfather clock separating the two rooms.

      Through the old swinging saloon doors and inside the kitchen was another vision. Pots and pans were out and some laying on top of each other, some with food others without. Onions, red peppers, potatoes, kale and carrots were diced and sitting on the wooden cutting board with a blue Star of David outlined in the middle. Jerry had on an apron with frilly edges and a chef’s hat, rolled up blue button up and some jeans, covered in flours at the feet. A smaller, feminine version of him stood on a pink and blue pedestal next to her father with a hair net covering her dirty blond hair, while she smothered chocolate on top of a yellow cake.

      “Uncle Kenny is here!” yelled the four year old, jumping down and running into a hug. Jerry rushed and hugged everyone as he stirred a pot of greens and one with boiling brown rice.

      “Hey, Alicen Wonderland!” Kenny tickled Alice into a fit of chocolate smudge faced giggles.

      “I hadn’t really been able to get any decorations up for the party.” Jerry remorsefully confessed to everyone.

      “We can smell that!” Teddy opened the oven and got a waft of brisket.

      “Let me take care of that,” Junior turned to leave the kitchen, “You still keep everything in the hall closet?”

      “Yes, thanks.”

      And Junior had rushed into the living room, out of sight but not unheard. Teddy quickly turned into Jerry’s sous chef as Tonya played with Alice in the backyard after a quick clean up. Kenny and Shawn took a seat from cushioned chairs at the round table by the back door and began playing a game of cards that Shawn had in his coat pocket. The conversation in the kitchen went from updates on Alice’s ballet to Kenny’s new neighbor, to which Kenny tried to quickly change the subject to no avail. Jerry was very intrigued at the new guy and wanted to know more about him.

      “He’s a civil engineer for a power company specializing in earthquakes and bridges. Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania,” Shawn answered when Kenny purposely focused more on the game instead of the conversation. 

      “Oh, honey, yes!” Teddy snapped his fingers, “Make that coin, okay?”

      “It’s not about that,” Kenny spoke up, “He’s a very nice guy who happens to also be a very nice gentleman-”

      “Blah blah,” Shawn cut in, “He’s over six feet four inches, very professional looking and apparently has the hots for our dear friend here.”

      Kenny heard the emphasis Shawn put on the word ‘friend’ and frowned. There was a small grunt from the living room and tape being torn.

      “You going to pursue him?” Jerry asked, as he pulled out the brisket and began spreading the diced vegetables on top.

      “Pursue? You make me sound like a stalker.”

      “You practically are,” Shawn laid down a queen of hearts and took the deck, “How many times have you looked out your window?”

      Kenny rolled his eyes as Jerry took a gulp of water.

      “You still haven’t answered Jerry’s question,” Teddy was plating the rice in a porcelain bowl, “Are you going to suck his dick or not?”

      Jerry spit out his water in a shocked laughter and Shawn chuckled as Kenny blushed.

      “He didn’t ask that offensive question.” Kenny tried to turn his focus back on the game.

      “Oh, don’t act like you don’t suck dick.” Teddy began plating the sweet potatoes Jerry handing him, still laughing.

      “Teddy, please, there are children around.” Kenny put down two Aces, smirking.

      “Where?” Shawn sardonically questioned, looking around.

      “Anyways, Jerry,” Kenny flustered his reply, “I don’t plan on doing anything with him. (Teddy and Shawn coughed ‘LIES’) and I definitely don’t plan on sucking anyone’s…thing.”

      “Dick. Just say dick!” Shawn yelled, “And you thought about it.”

      “Shawn, shut up.” Kenny slammed down a King of Spades and took the pile. Junior came in the kitchen, only in his tank top and khakis, wiping his forehead with a paper towel.

      “What are you guys in here talking about? I heard the word dick.”

      “Of course you did.” Shawn muttered.

      Jerry clued him in with fits of laughter every now and then as he began creating a coconut cream base. Alice and Tonya continued to play tea party outside in the bright lowering sun as dinner began to slowly finish. Kenny and Shawn set the huge round table in the living room that Junior set up with balloons in the center and streamers strung every direction. There was a huge white table cloth over the top where the food was set and six thick golden porcelain plates sat around. Junior turned on soft jazz music to play in the background with a few candles lit around the windows as Teddy cleaned the dishes with Jerry, less the apron and hat.

      Within the half hour the sun was setting and dinner was completely ready; brisket with chopped potatoes and chives, onions and peppers, baked sweet potatoes smothered in melted marshmallows, collard greens cooked in turkey bacon, brown rice and matzah ball soup and homemade challah bread. Jerry made his daughter’s plate and sat her in front of reruns of Muppet Babies. Shawn gave a speech once everyone was seated and food on their plate. He spoke about knowing Kenny from children and was happy to have him back. Everyone cheered to which Alice shushed them and complained she couldn’t hear Miss Piggy.

      Jerry reminisced about college and when Kenny actually moved away, it was the biggest fraternity party of the year but wasn’t the same without Kenny. Teddy wolfed down his food and got seconds and thirds before anyone had finished their first helping. Only Kenny noticed this but chose to stay silent and enjoy the conversation now about Desperate Housewives and then the upcoming Presidential Election between John McCain and Barack Obama.

      “Who you guys voting for?” Jerry asked, opening their third bottle of White Zinfandel and refilled Tonya’s glass on his right and then to Shawn’s on his left. Kenny reached across Shawn’s left to get the salt and pass it to Teddy next to him.

      “Obama, of course.” Junior beamed, stuffing his mouth with potatoes.

      “Why ‘of course’?” Shawn twisted his face, “Because he’s black?”

      “So you’re saying that you’re not?”

      “Don’t do that. Why are you voting for the token black man?”

      “How did this get on race? But I would hope that as a black man yourself you would vote for the black man.” Junior sighed staring angrily across the table, “We as a people have been held back for generations. We finally have one of our brothers running for President of the United States. He has a lot to say about change in this country and ending this unnecessary war Bush put us in. Obama most definitely will get my vote over McCain and his money and war hungry self. And he just so happens to be black. Who are you voting for?!”

      “That’s my business. One shouldn’t automatically assume that because I’m f****n’ black that I am going to vote for the black man. I don’t necessarily agree with everything he has to say on most of his policies. If elected, he will do just like all the rest of the goddamn corrupted presidents before and be a puppet for congress. I’d rather vote for a white man that has some balls than a black man who doesn’t own any.”

      “Oh, boy.” Tonya took a gulp, quickly escorted Alice to her room to finish her food and show there, before returning back beside Jerry, who had his face in his palm.

      Junior grunted loudly and Kenny lowered his head.

      “So you’re voting for McCain?!”

      Shawn rolled his eyes and threw down his silverware.

      “THAT’S ALL YOU F*****G HEARD FROM THAT?! I am voting for McCain?! You sound just like every cry baby n***a in America, ignorant! Always complaining that there aren’t any f****n’ black people on Friends but you turned a blind eye to Will and Grace didn’t you? Couldn’t get enough of that show. Hypocrite is something I can never call myself!”

      “Ralph Nader has my vote-” Teddy drunkenly tried to cut in.

      “I sound ignorant? You have some nerve! You sound like every self-hating black person that yells ‘fight the power’ for all blacks but be the first to turn your nose up at Mexicans or Asians! No offense, Tonya.”

      “Uh, I’m not Asian-”

      “Listen!” Jerry bellowed, pounding his fist on the table, “If I knew it was going to become this big of a goddamn deal I would have never brought up the subject!”

      “Really? You thought politics wouldn’t get people hyped?” Tonya shook her head, “What about you Kenny?”

      Kenny lifted up his head and sighed.

      “I’d, um, rather not. But whoever is for gay marriage.”

      “That doesn’t seem like any of them.” Teddy answered to which Kenny shrugged.

      “Then I will vote for myself. Like I do every election year.” He nervously eyed Shawn and Junior, who were shooting daggers at each other.

      Junior quietly seethed as he finished his second helping and they all cleared the table before Jerry brought out the dessert. Shawn didn’t seem to care about Junior’s animosity and dug into the pie, while Teddy and Kenny quietly talked about the previous episode of Desperate Housewives. Tonya had took Alice to get ready for bed before Jerry tucked her in. They walked into another debate subject; legalizing prostitution.

      “I would legalize it on a federal level. Tax it and get America out of its debt.” Jerry announced as he whipped out a vape pen and a small canister filled with a ball of wax from under a Macramé turtle on the window, took his seat and handed it to Tonya. She took the first hit as she sat.

      “And weed,” she added, “Billion dollar business to tax.”

      “Why would you do either of that?” Junior twisted his face this time, “You would be just opening up America to a plethora of diseases and addictions. And we all know one leads toward the other. No one would have any respect for sex and not to mention new HIV infections would skyrocket. And that’s just sick.”

      “Ladies and gentlemen, our teacher of the next generation.” Shawn sarcastically whipped.

      “I respect sex-” Jerry low fived Tonya as they took another vape.

      “Prostituting is sick or getting HIV is sick?! You may want to clarify for me!” Teddy snapped, to the surprise of everyone.

      “What does it matter to you? You aren’t sick or a hoe.” Junior waved him away, but Shawn was just about to respond before Teddy slammed down his glass of wine, splashing it on the table.

      “I never knew you to be such a closed minded individual, Johnson!”

      Junior swallowed his bite of pie bewilderedly.

      “You’re just drunk. Why are you overreacting about this?”

      “Maybe you aren’t getting it,” Shawn chimed in.

      “Let’s just change the subject, please.” Jerry sighed.

      “Once again.” Kenny and Tonya muttered when Alice called for Jerry from down the hallway. He sprang out of sight as the debate continued.

      “What if I told you I had HIV, then what?” Teddy yelled, tears forming.

      “Do you?” Junior hesitantly asked.

      “NO! This is all hypothetical, no? What if I had it? How would you feel then?”

      “Well, why would I care then if it’s all hypothetical? Only hoes get infected. You’re not a hoe so why worry about it?”

      Teddy shot up and stormed out the back door with trails of tears falling behind. Kenny was the one who went after him as Junior stood thunderstruck.

      “Teddy!” Kenny called as the door slammed behind him in the chilly night air, “What’s going on?”

      Teddy had stormed to the other side of the gated yard and slumped onto a log at the farthest corner, submerging them out of sight in foliage. Tears were streaming down his eyes as he clutched Kenny’s shoulders, who finally caught up and sat.

      “Junior has been my very best friend since high school. I thought I knew how he thought and felt on most of these issues, no?” Teddy wiped his nose on his sleeve, “I can’t keep listening to him babble on about something he knows nothing about!”

      “What are you talking about?” Kenny questioned calmly, “Do you really have HIV?”

      “No! But-but…” Teddy lowered his arms and looked shamefully looked down, “I was laid off my job a month ago and I’ve been placing ads on websites like Craigslist or Adam for escorting.”

      Kenny stared off for a moment and then nodded slowly.

      “Are you okay?”

      “No! It’s humiliating. I hate doing it.”

      “Then why not do something else?”

      “I am looking, but I haven’t been getting any leads from this damn economy. But I have been getting replies about sex all the time. Mostly all of it has been safe.” Teddy turned and looked up at the partly cloudy moon, “Old out of shape men wanting you to come over and strip for them. ‘Flex your European-American muscles for daddy’. Sometimes that’s all they want. Other times…”

      His voice trailed off as Kenny scooted closer beside him in a hug.

      “When’s the last time you’ve been tested, Theodore?”

      Teddy exhaled deeply before shrugging.

      “I have been too scared. I think it’s been two or three years.”

      Kenny inhaled slowly and looked into his friend’s greenish eyes.

      “The pay is that good?”

      “Five hundred just for going to their house. A thousand for anything more.”

      Silence settled for a few moments as they both looked into the moon, with the crickets chirping close by and car horns in the distance. Two small dogs began barking a few houses down before Kenny spoke.

      “Then we will go together to get tested.”

      Quietness fell again before Teddy smiled and nodded.

      “Kenny,”

      “Yeah, buddy.”

      “Keep this between you and me, please?”

      Kenny tightened into another hug and released.

      “Of course. But what do I tell the nosey hens in there?”

      “I will just tell them I have a family member close to me that died being a prostitute or something.”

      The two shared a small laugh together before walking back toward the house. Everyone helped with the clean-up in mostly silence, only the soft jazz music soothing the air. Junior left preferring to take BART home alone after Jerry offered to drive. Tonya reminded him that they wouldn’t fit in his small luxury car with Alice riding too and reluctantly he gave up and walked them to the station instead thirty minutes later, with his daughter sleep on his back. The soft chatter was mostly about Junior and the upcoming Halloween party at the end of the month in the Castro District.

      When Kenny arrived home, he stared absentmindedly at the house across the street. There was a light on beaming from each side of the house, before Shawn pushed him inside when he noticed Kenny gawking. That night, they both fell asleep with a lot on their minds.

      But the recurring dream only came to Kenny.

 

      He was stuck in the middle of a dark jungle of thorny vines, following a hummingbird into a towering wall. The wall of vine was taller than before and the top was hidden from view. The soft moonlight faintly glittered through the thick brushes above. A shining light would occasionally pierce through cracks on the vine wall but each touch would cut deeply. Kenny cussed and sucked his bloody fingers, kicking the wall in frustration. Abruptly, the hummingbird fluttered from his right and hopelessly tried to find an opening over every inch without getting cut.

      But a quick, small red flash stole his attention and when he slowly walked over the flatten plants and stepped through a loosely vined opening, he almost fell off the side of a steep cliff. Destruction and ruin lined the deep valleys with fire and lava. The sky was blackened on that side and lightning crashed violently. Wind started to pick up making it harder for him to breath but drastically changed coarse pushing Kenny over the side.

      He frantically reached out for a vine unsuccessfully when lightning struck the cliff. Rocks began to crumble beneath his feet as the ground suddenly gave way. But just as he felt his life flashing before his eyes while his body began to fall, a hand reached out and grabbed his wrist.

      The sudden feeling of falling jolted Kenny out of his sleep before he could see his savior’s face. The digital clock flashed that it was midnight and before he went back to sleep, he snuck a peek across the street again. All the lights at Christian’s house were off and Kenny could hear Shawn’s voice in his head about stalking.

      But no sleep came to Kenny for the rest of the night.