FirstLineFiction beta

from Contest #6

            Almost everyone thought the man and the boy were father and son. The gentleness of each touch, and the softness in their eyes, it was always mistaken for that parental bond. People never questioned it, or perceived it as anything else. They were father and son and that was it.

            If you looked closer, however, you would begin to unravel the mystery that they were. If you gazed deeper, you would start to expose the enigma that existed between them. Each touch was gentle, but it was also intimate. Every look was soft, but it was also sensual. They were not father and son; they were lovers.
            No one ever thought that they were lovers; it seemed too large of a faux-pas, too overwhelming to comprehend. They saw his young and fresh demeanor, and then they saw his aged sense of wisdom, along with his white head of hair, and it was easier to mark them off as father and son. Anything else, of course, would have been absurd. But alas, such was the case.
            It was a brisk day in September when they first met. As they both separately entered the grocery store on that day, they never expected what was to come. They were both on the soup aisle when Jake, the younger of the two, made the first break in casual conversation.
            “So, what do you need soup for?”
            Henry, who was 25 years his senior, looked at Jake in an odd way. But as he looked over at Jake, he couldn’t help but to be captivated by those baby-blue eyes, and that soft black hair.
            “Oh, I thought it would be a nice way to keep warm. It’s been chilly out lately. How about you son? Doing shopping for you and your roommates?”
            “Ha, not exactly. I just finished college, so I’m working part-time, but I live alone. It’s not exactly my cup of tea, but I manage.”
            At the same time, Jake felt warmth, and a brilliant radiance that leaked from Henry’s every pore. They both felt it, and they couldn’t help it.
            “I’m Jake, by the way.”
            “It’s quite nice to meet you Jake. I’m Henry.”
            Henry outstretched his arm, and Jake shook it. They both felt that connection being established, as if their neurons had already interconnected and entangled. Neither one would admit it at that moment, but they each felt it. It was a sensation that satiated throughout their bodies, and it brought a grin to each of their faces.
            “Say, Jake; since you don’t have any roommates, how would you like to join me for dinner tonight?”
            Jake was quick to say yes in his head, but he refused to let it show. He decided to play it off smooth, or at least as smoothly as he could manage.
            “Hmm…well, I think we could work something out, if you really want to.”
            “I’d love to work something out, Jake. Here, here’s my number,” Henry took Jake’s hand, and pulled out a pen as he carefully wrote on his hand, “So call me this evening, and I’ll give you directions to my condo. Does that work for you?”
            “That’ll be great.”
            Henry and Jake shook hands once more, and continued on with their normal routines. They parted ways, but their paths were already deeply tangled.

-

            The doorbell rang, and then the door swung open. Henry stood there with a sly smile on his face, a pair of khakis on his legs, and a cardigan sweater.
            “Why hello there Jake, come on in; let’s get you out of the cold.”
            “Thanks Henry. It’s nice to see you again.”
            “It’s great to see your smiling face once again.”
            “I brought a nice little salad for us, I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t know what you would be making, so I hope that’s okay.”
            “Oh, no worries Jake. I appreciate it, and it will work just lovely. But anyway, come on in.”
            Jake entered his condo cautiously, but anxious with excitement. He attempted to mask his anxiety, and he would do his best to act as casual as possible. Henry saw this, but he wouldn’t mention it, because he was just as nervous. He led Jake into the dining room, and they both sat at the table, across from each other, and ready for what would come next.
            “I’m quite glad that you decided to join me this evening Jake. I prepared some Stuffed Marsala Chicken, so I hope you’re okay with that.”
            “Oh, it’s okay. You didn’t have to do anything like that, I’m used to eating noodles and oatmeal most of the time!”
            “Well, you have to spoil yourself every once and awhile, don’t you?”
            “I guess so; it’s just, a little bit strange. But thank you for making all of this.”
            “Well then Jake, let’s dig in.”
            Henry and Jake ate, and began to trade stories and tales and little details and facets of their life. Each little tid-bit would fly and float across the table, swiftly flowing into their ears. It was a melody of melodic proportions, and the smiles and laughter filled Henry’s condo. Time winded down though, as they finished dinner. Henry cleared the table, and Jake helped with the dishes. They continued to talk and laugh and trade secrets as the continued on with their evening.
            “How would you like a glass of wine Jake?”
            “I don’t drink very often, but that sounds like a perfect end to the evening.”
            “Well, why don’t you have a seat on the couch, and I’ll bring you a little glass.”
            Jake sat on the rosemary red couch, and waited as Henry shuffled around in the kitchen. He was anxious, as he had been the whole evening, but he would continue to move on.
            “Here you go Jake. I poured you a smaller glass, but if you’d like more, I’d be happy to get you some more.”
            “Thanks Henry, I appreciate it.”
            Henry sat down on the couch next to Jake. Then, they were embracing each other. That bond, that connection, it twisted and entangled them together. They couldn’t help it. They had to. Henry’s hands swiftly glided over Jake’s body, as Jake himself began to kiss Henry. Everything about it was perfect, and neither of them would have changed a thing.
            They came together as one, and their souls and minds and bodies interconnected as one being. They were a single concoction of emotion and feeling and pleasure, and nothing could become any better. Everything was unimaginable. Everything was perfect.
            Unfortunately, everything had to come to an end. They both dressed, Jake gathered his things, and the night had to come to an end.
            “Well Henry, it was a great night, thanks for having me over.”
            “You too Jake, I’m glad that you enjoyed your evening, and I hope that we can do this again. Be sure to drive home safely, and I’m sure that we’ll see each other again sometime.”
            They embraced for the last time, and then, the night was over.

-

            The phone was ringing…ringing…ringing…Jake slowly awoke, and it took awhile for him to recognize the sound. As he tumbled back down from the land of dreams, he finally realized what it was. He checked the display, but he didn’t recognize the number, so he rolled back over in bed.
            The phone rang again.
            Ringing…ringing…ringing…Jake slowly rolled back over, to see the same strange number, but he decided to actually answer.
            “Hello.”
            “Hi, is this Jake Ashton?”
            “Yeah, this is him. May I ask who is calling?”
            “Hi Jake, this is Doctor Sterling, over at Rolling Hills Medical. I’m calling you on behalf of Henry Robalt. He was in a serious accident this morning, and he is in critical condition. He managed to request for us to contact you, so we were just letting you know. If you would like to come visit him, we would greatly appreciate it.”
            Jake didn’t know what to say. Jake didn’t know what to do. How could sometime like that happen? After such an amazing night, something like that was impossible, it was improbable, and it had happened.
            “Okay, thank you Doctor, I’ll come in as soon as I can. Thank you.”

-

            The hospital was painted with murals and pictures and drawings in an attempt to bring a certain sense of warmth and joy, but it didn’t mask the feelings of death, and of sadness. Those feelings of melancholy ripped right through Jake as he walked into Henry’s room.
            Henry was propped up in bed, medical tubes and IVs in every which direction, his heavy breathing assisted by yet another machine. It brought tears to his eyes. He sat down next to Henry, and he lovingly ran own hand over his.
            Jake sat by Henry’s side, and let out a gasp as he saw Henry’s eyes painfully open.
            “Ja…Jake…It’s so…good to see you. I’m glad you…you…came.”
            “Shh…don’t talk Henry. It’ll be okay Henry, I promise.”
            “I…I just wa…wanted to thank you Jake. Last…last night was wonderful. It’s not t…too often that I’ve ever…enjoyed…myself.”
            “You’ll be fine Henry, I promise, okay?”
            “I…I know Jake. I know.
            Henry closed his eyes, as the heart monitor next to him began to flat line. The tears flowed down Jake’s face, but he knew that there was nothing he could do. He was gone.
            Almost everyone thought that the man and boy were father and son. The gentleness of each touch, and the softness in their eyes, it was always mistaken for that parental bond. People never questioned it, or perceived it as anything else. They were father and son and that was it.
            If you looked closer, however, you would begin to unravel the mystery that they were. If you gazed deeper, you would start to expose the enigma that existed between them. Each touch was gentle, but it was also intimate. Every look was soft, but it was also sensual. They were not father and son; they were lovers.

back to Contest #6