Of Birthdays
Thursday July 15th @ 11:45 PM
Steve was laying there with Mark's arm wrapped around his waist.
Mark was asleep, enjoying a well deserved rest. Reflecting on the day,
Steve decided this was one of the best birthday he ever had. For
starters, since he hasn't been doing much celebrating lately, he took a
couple vacation days to give him a nice long weekend. He didn't get up
until about noon. The day started with some e-mail that showed up when
he logged on to his computer:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thurs, 15 Jul 99 07:11AM CDT
From: Top of Form 1 <Brtmthws@jmcs.com>(Bart
Zack)
To: mcman@xjx.com (Steve)
Subject: If We could only see you - from Bart Zack
Top of Form 2
Guess what! You have just received an animated greeting card from Bart
Zack You'll see the personal greeting by using the following Web
location.
http://www2.bluemountain.com/cards/box8668j/siz3abvrfirymh.htm
(Your greeting card will be available for the next 90 days) There is no
charge for this service! :) HAVE a good day and have fun! __
Accessing your card indicates your agreement with our Web site Rules
posted at the bottom of the following Web location: (You're welcome to
send a card at no charge to someone at this location)
http://www.bluemountain.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
That was a really nice touch, a great way to start the
day. Zack and
Bart had started e-mailing him last week. Checking his e-mail became a
little job he now looked forward to.
About 4:00 PM, he headed over to Mark's place. Mark had promised
him a home cooked meal for his birthday. Having eaten Mark's cooking
before, he was a little wary about the menu as Mark had been known to
burn water. But Mark was making a special effort for him tonite, and
whatever it was he'd eat it all. When he got there he just used his key
to get in, Mark was in the kitchen 'making' salad. This was done by
opening a bag of lettuce, spinach, and other things which Mark mixed
with a package of salad dressing. Mark looked up when Steve cleared his
throat, and his face brightened up. "Well, Happy Birthday, Kiddo!!! Come
here!' They moved toward each other, until their lips met. Mark thought
that this was definitely the way to start an evening.
Steve looked around the kitchen after reluctantly breaking off
the
kiss, "Well, I see you've been busy, a whole salad for the two of us."
Mark feigns a hurt look, "Listen, Kiddo, that's just the start. Look
what's in the weber on the balcony." Steve walks outside and lifts the
cover. "Mark! Holy Shit! You've gone all out!" Cooking over the
charcoal, were a couple of filets, some potatoes, and corn on the cob.
Mark, smiling, proudly says, "Cookin' on the barbie! ... Can I get you a
beer or maybe a glass of wine?" "Wine? You picked up wine? Holy
Thunderfuck! ... Are you trying to seduce me? Cause if you are, I'm
yours."
Mark motions Steve to follow him back inside, "Come
on, I want to
give you your first present." "You got me more than one?" Mark grabs a
package from behind the TV. It looks a lot like a VHS tape, wrapped in
the Sunday comics page, but with a ribbon on it. He hands it to Steve,
who rips the paper off. "Oh God! How did you know?" Steve held in his
hand a copy of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". Mark says, "You
know I really do listen to you sometimes. ... I remember you taking
about it one night as if were the best thing since Gone With the Wind!"
Steve - "Can we watch it after supper?" Mark replies, "Well I did have
something else in mind, but it is your birthday. .. Anyways it's time to
eat."
Steve noticed that Mark had set the kitchen table with place
mats,
his best dishes, and candles. It was still bright out, and the sun was
streaming in the west windows, but Mark stood there lighting the candles
with the sweetest expression on his face. "Sit down Steve, I'm serving."
As predicted Mark had a little trouble with the food. The potatoes were
raw in the center, the corn over cooked, and the filets practically
charred on one side while the other was barely browned. Steve ate as if
it was ambrosia and nectar. After they had finished the food, Mark said,
"Now for dessert." He went over and opened a cabinet pulling out a
lopsided cake, frosted with two candles on top "19". Steve wiped away
the tears that were gathering in his eyes, "Mark, you are really the
best. ... I love you." He then went and enfolded Mark in his arms and
started to continue where the last kiss ended. Mark, came up for air and
said, "Steve, ... I know I don't say it enough but I do love you too."
"But before we get started, how about your other
presents?" "I've
got all I want right now." From the look on Mark's face, he could tell
Mark was really getting into the birthday present mode. "Here, you go.
Handing him a couple small packages." There were bottles of after shave
and cologne, a shirt and a fluorescent tie with the planets on it.
Steve, gave Mark a kiss with each and every gift he opened. Each kiss
lasting longer than the preceding one. Mark finally said, "I know this
isn't that much of a present for you, but I took off of work tomorrow,
and we have three days to be together, ... and three nights. ... You
will be staying over won't you?" "It would be my pleasure, but tomorrow
I'll have to go back and pack a bag. I didn't bring anything with me."
Mark, looking a little sheepishly, stared into Steve's eyes
for a
moment, then glancing down again. "That'll be great. It'll probably be
our last weekend here." "Mark, what are you talking about?"
Still studying the vinyl flooring, he says, "Well, my
lease is up
August first, and I was thinking about looking for a bigger place. ...
I'll ... I'll be needing a roommate ... and I was kinda ... hoping you'd
apply for the position." Steve pulled Mark close to him, and kissed him
deeply and as hard as he could. "That was my application, do you think
I'll do?" It was Mark's turn to pull Steve back. "Mmm, hhmm." as he
decided that he was going to be the winner of their ongoing kissing
'contest'.
Later, laying in bed, Steve says to Mark, "You know I
really want
to move in with you, but what about your dad? He's not going like it,
his son living with a queer." "I've thought about it, and I have to live
my own life. It's not that I want you in my life, I need you there. When
you're not there, it's like I am counting down every minute til we're
going to be together. ... I'm tired of not seeing you. ... It'll
probably sound corny, but having you to come home to every night, will
be worth anything I'd havta go thru." Steve decided this was a good time
to start a new kissing contest.
Steve was laying there with Mark's arm wrapped around his
waist.
Mark was asleep, enjoying a well deserved rest. Steve decided this was
THE best fucking birthday he ever had.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday July 16th @ 1:00 AM
For the umpteenth time, Gary looked at the clock radio. He
thought,
"Shit twelve more minutes, that's all. God, it's taking forever." He
then looked at Ted gently snoring, fast asleep. Someone once told him
love was like two people with one set of lungs, one heart, and one soul.
Every time he looked at Ted, he knew that person was right. He stared at
the clock willing it to move. When it finally hit 1:12, he started to
gently kiss Ted's face, mumbling in between, "Ted, wake up." Ted slowly
becomes aware of Gary, and at first just lies there luxuriating in
Gary's kisses, but eventually he opens his eyes and wraps his arms
around him, pulling Gary very close. "Gary, while I do like the thought,
what are you still doing up, and I mean that in a couple of ways? It's
just a little past one." Gary looks at him and says, "I just wanted to
tell you that I'm tired of sleeping with boys. ... I want a man! HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TED! ... You are officially an adult. ... By the way, how would
you like to be the first man I ever made love to?" "Sounds good to me."
Ted starts nibbling on Gary's neck. Gary says, "Can you wait one second,
I want to give you your present." Ted says, "You're all the present I
want."
"Come on, Ted just a minute, please." Ted slowly
disengages him
self a small amount. "Ok, I'm all yours." Gary reaches under his pillow,
and starts talking, "Originally, I was ... gonna give you this at dinner
tonite ... but you know me, I just couldn't wait." He pulls out the
small jewelry box with two identical rings, "I know it won't be legal or
anything," he then continues in his most serious voice, "But .. .will
... you ... marry me?" Ted begins to cry softly, "As far as I'm
concerned, we're all ready married." Gary - "Can you give me your
hand?", as he slips the ring on Ted's finger, he says solemnly a he can,
"Ted, I love you and always will. ... I promise to be there for you
through thick and thin. ... You are my heart ... and ... my soul."
Ted gently takes the remaining ring from the box. He takes Gary's
hand and with tears rolling down his cheeks, slips the ring on Gary's
finger, "Gary, you will never know what you mean to me. ... I love you
and always will. ..." trying to remember exactly how Gary said it, he
goes on, "I promise to be there for you through thick ... and thin. ...
You are my heart ... and ... my very soul."
Ted whispers to Gary, "I think we should throw a big party and let
all of our friends know." Gary smiles and says, "I'll think about it."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
back to "stray e-mail, part one"