Saturday Conversations Afternoon
Saturday August 14th @ 4:00 PM -
Cheyenne Memorial Hospital.
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"You know you don't have to be here?" Mark was saying
to Steve as
they walked down the hospital corridor. "Yeah, I know it. I want to meet
some of your friends. And I'll watch what I say, as far as he's
concerned, we're just roommates." Mark knows he's worrying too much. On
top of it is that it was Mark's idea in the first place. Larry had
seemed pretty depressed the last couple of times he had visited. Mark
was hoping if Larry met other people, it would make him feel better.
"Steve, I wanna thank you. I do appreciate it."
Entering the room, they see that Larry's is watching the TV
looking
not particularly interested. When he sees Mark walk in, a smile crosses
his face until he sees Steve walk in also. "Mark, great to see you.
Who's your buddy?" Larry can't get out of his mind that he knows the
guy. "Larry, this is Steve, my roommate. ... Steve, this Larry, my dirt
biking buddy." They shake hands, while Mark looks on. Steve says, "Glad
to meet you, Larry." "Same here dude. Thanks for coming. I hope Mark
didn't twist your arm to get you here." "Nah, I had nothin to do, so
when Mark mentioned it, I thought it would be a good idea." Steve is
noticing that Larry's staring at him. Larry asks, "Do we know each
other? Cuz I'm almost positive we met."
"Well, I deliver for Atwood Lumber Company. Maybe, you saw
me
making a delivery." Steve chances a quick glance to Mark. Mark thinks
nothing of it, but Steve has been pretty paranoid about 'being
recognized' in public. "So Lar, how long you in for?" Larry, switches
the TV to the Weather Channel, and says, "Leave this shit on. ... Ah, oh
ya, The doctors say that I'll be here another week or so. Then I get to
go home. Lucky, they're holding my job for me at Win-Dixie. ... If I
know those assholes, they probably can't find anyone who wanted it."
"So Steve, do you ever go dirt bikin'?" "Nah,
'fraid I'll kill
myself. ... Oops, sorry, didn't mean anything by that.", realizing that
Larry had really almost killed himself. "Hey don't worry about it. It
was a stupid accident. ... So how's work been going?" "Pretty well. I
like getting out on the road. Lots of fresh air that's for sure. ..."
The three of them exchange small talk for maybe ten minutes, when
Larry looks again at Steve, "Hey I know you, you're that faggo... I mean
you that queer guy from that revival meeting a couple years back."
Steve looks at him and says, "Yeah I guess I am." He stands and walks
out of the room with only a slight sideways look at Mark. Mark looks at
Larry and says, "Shut the fuck up. I'll be right back." Mark walks out
after Steve.
Steve is leaning up against wall. He sees Mark, walk out of the
room then towards him. "Mark, I'll just go wait in the car. " "Steve,
wait. I'm sure he didn't mean it." "I heard what he said, and I'm pretty
sure I can figure out for myself what he meant." "Steve, please."
Looking at Mark, he shakes his head no. "I just can't. I've been fucked
too many times. I KNOW when to leave. ..." he adds, "Don't worry Mark.
I'll be fine. But I really will be waiting for you in the car." Steve
turns and heads out to the parking lot.
Mark re-enters Larry's room. Larry looks up, "Look I'm
sorry, how
was I to know that you had a ... gay roommate. I suppose it takes all
kinds." Mark doesn't get any farther into the room. He leans with his
back against the door, "And just what 'kind' is Steve?" "Shit, I
meant
that ..." Mark stops him, "you meant that he's a faggot and a queer,
right?" Larry tries to explain, "That's not what ..." Mark again cuts
him off, "Well, shit-for-brains for your information, yeah ... He's gay,
remember that word - gay. He's also a friend of mine, who only came here
to do me a favor. Cuz I was worried about you? ... You asshole, you can
go fuck yourself. ... And in case that excuse you have for a brain,
starts to think about it, Steve is more than just my friend. ... Not
that it's any of your fucking business, who Steve goes to bed, but he
GOES TO BED WITH ME. ... Got it, or am I talking too fast for you?" Mark
turns and opens the door. "Wait, Mark wait, I didn't know." Mark turns
as if to say something, but ends up turning back and heading down the
hallway to join Steve in the car.
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