Introducing Mike Browne...
Mike Browne was not one to frequent bars, especially bars like this one, but a lot had changed in the last few years for this 57 year old insurance agent.
His daughters had both graduated from college and were married, and as he settled into the life of an empty-nester with his wife, it became more and more difficult to keep living a lie. It was a lie that he had managed to live for the 30 years of his marriage, but when he finally came to grips with the fact that while he liked and admired his wife, he didn't love her. Not the way she deserved to be loved.
"I'm gay, or at least I think I am. Probably always have been," Mike told Emma one night, and his wife's response was not what he expected.
"Oh," Emma said softly. "I always suspected as much."
As it turned out, Emma had a secret of her own.
"I've had several affairs of my own over the years," Emma admitted. "I guess I didn't consider it cheating since the affairs were with other women."
Mike Browne hadn't really been with another man since college, but the yearning had never left him. It had gotten worse when their daughters had been dating, because Mike would find himself lusting after their boyfriends.
With these revelations that Mike and Emma shared, their split was amicable and quick, with none of the bad-mouthing and ill feelings that often accompanied divorces. Now Mike was on his own, free to do whatever he wanted.
Mike was in good shape for a guy nearing 60, and while he was raring to make up for lost time, it wasn't easy to make the adjustment. Furthermore, Mike soon discovered that he wasn't attracted to men of his generation, finding himself drawn more to college age guys.
Maybe it was because he still thought of himself as being that age, having had many wonderful experiences with fellow students back in the late 60's and early 70's when he was young.
Nothing wrong with that, Mike reasoned, but so far he hadn't been able to find any young fellows who had a hankering for a guy his age. That changed one early evening at The Waterworks, a bar in downtown Albany that Mike had never visited before.
****
Chapter One: It was Todd.
It was sheer luck that I saw him first, because judging by his reaction when I came around the bar and sat next to him, if he had seen me first he would have bolted.
I had recognized Todd Connors right away, because when you live next door to somebody for all those years, they become as familiar as your own family. Having watched Todd grow up, from being a grubby little guy rooting around in his sandbox to the tall and studious looking young man now nervously looking around the bar, I was stunned to see him in a place like this.
Not as stunned as Todd was when I slid onto the stool next to him, because he practically jumped in the air when he glanced over to see his old neighbor smiling at him.
"Mr. Browne?" Todd yelped, looking like a rat trapped in a maze.
"Mike," I corrected, sticking out my hand. "Good to see you again, Todd."
"What are you doing here?" Todd asked.
"Same thing you are, I guess," I said, nodding at the bottle of Smithwicks in front of him. "You're 21 already?"
"19," Todd whispered after making sure the bartender was out of earshot. "Fake proof."
"Your secret is safe with me," I said, squeezing his leg under the bar.
"I meant, I didn't think that you were - you know."
"I guess I didn't know myself," I told my former neighbor. "Got tired of pretending I was something I wasn't. Do you frequent this place?"
"Never been here before," Todd said.
"Me neither."
"Wish I knew that you were - you know," Todd mumbled. "Gay. I can usually tell."
"I guess I fooled a lot of people," I said.
"Can I tell you something?" Todd asked.
"Sure."
"I've always had the hots for you," Todd confessed. "In the summer, when you used to be out on your deck and in the pool, I would be up in my room jerking off while looking at you. Stupid, huh?"
"No," I said. "I figured that you were up there studying all the time, seeing as how you were the Valedictorian in high school."
"I did a lot of studying, but sometimes I got distracted. I'm glad you aren't offended."
"Offended?" I scoffed. "I'm flattered that a young guy would find an old guy like me attractive."
"I like older men," Todd said, blushing. "Guys my age don't do anything for me."
"Oh really? That's funny because I feel the same way."
"You do?" Todd said, startled at my confession. "Oh man, when I think of all those days stroking myself while looking at your hairy chest, and dreaming about what was under your trunks."
"Well, you were kind of young back then, so I can't say that I thought about you like that," I reminded him. "Although you look just like you did back when I lived next door to you."
"I missed you after you moved out," Todd said. "Didn't know why you left."
"Now you do," I told him, and Todd nodded and exhaled, which I suspect was caused by my hand returning to Todd's slender thigh. "I think I've had enough of this place."
"Me too," Todd said, draining his beer and jumping out of his seat.
***
Chapter Two: In the car.
