A brisk sunny Saturday in October finds me looking at a white frame vinyl-sided condominium. A stone wall extends along the the building. Above the wall stands a black metallic fence. It is a landscaped property named Breton Hills on Breton Way.
It's owner Zach Richards is a former classmate at Sayville Highschool with whom I had reconnected at our very recent twenty year reunion. Zach and I moved in different circles with different interests. He was a high school football player who spent his Sundays watching football games with his dad. I was a trumpet player in the school band. When not hanging out with other musicians, I spent a lot of time practicing and wishing I could play like Wynton Marsalis.
That I'm gay was not exactly a secret. Everyone knew since our sophomore year that I was seeing a cute little blond named Ken James. Zach was seeing Magggie Lawson, a girl whom I called a friend.
Imagine my surprise when Zach and I were chatting across an outdoor table bringing each other up to date. His admission to coming out in college was totally unexpected. Anyway we chatted briefly about discovering our sexual orientation.
I pulled my i-phone from my pants pocket and dialed his number with a single touch. I heard one ring then a second ring.
"Steven," said a voice.
"I'm at the curb."
"I'll be down in a minute."
The 5 9 hunk with light-brown hair and blue eyes came outside wearing bluejeans and forest green sweatshirt.
"You made it. How was the traffic?"
"Not too bad," I replied. I added, "heavy but moving."
I had driven the 36 miles from Sayville on the south shore to Glen Cove on the north side, almost all of it on I-495.
"Are you up for a walk? I'd love to show you the area."
First I want you to kiss me.
We started a leisurely walk soon after he came outside.
"So what did you say you do for work?"
"I work for Chase bank. What do you do?"
"I worked as a manager at La Sorella Boutique before I started at the hospital."
"La Sorella, Isn't that women's clothing?"
"It is," I replied.
"I can picture you there."
I'll be the first to admit that I was effeminate as a teenager. My personality did not, thank God, make my life difficult. He was macho.
Back in the day Zach lived somewhere on the north side of Main Street. I had grown up close to the beach. We may as well have lived on different planets.
Anyway we ended up at Glen Cove bay. Two Kayaks on the bay were heading to the sound. For several seconds I followed their course with my eyes.
Zach asked, "have you ever paddled Kayak."
"It looks like fun."
Later that afternoon Zach put his red tandem Kayak on the calm water of Glen Cove bay. He took the front seat and I the back. A slight breeze was blowing from the west
"I bought this 3 years ago."
"I'll cross this off my bucket list."