As we were eating dinner one Tuesday evening, Josh looked a little distracted..."You want to tell me what you're thinking about?" I asked.
"Yeah, I was thinking that I would like to invite some of my colleagues over on Friday evening to meet you, we could grill burgers and hotdogs, what do you think?"
"I think it's a great idea, I would really like to meet your colleagues, I'll come home early on Friday and get everything ready," and then added, "Maybe we should limit the menu to hamburgers," and I smiled.
"Errr, why?"
"I am not sure it's a good idea to grill phallic symbols on your colleagues' first visit."
Josh laughed heartily, "Yeah, maybe you're right...that's fucked up."
"Who's coming?" I asked.
"Well, Zeke, my boss, he's in his late fifties, we overlapped a couple months in Afghanistan and when I came back home he offered me a job. There are three engineers who work directly for me, Collin, whom we call "Col", Ellias, Caleb and one of the construction workers named Cal. Cal is none too bright and says whatever is on his mind whether it makes any sense or not. He's kinda of a "good ole boy", has a bitch of a wife, Sue Ellen, who calls and bitches at him every 10 minutes and four daughters at home, so he's outnumbered."
"Looking forward to it, that should be fun," I offered. I knew Josh was a quiet guy and I didn't know how much he had shared with his colleagues about us or our relationship.
On Friday afternoon, I got beers, snacks and everything ready for the ready and Josh came home at four-thirty. He gave me a big embrace and kiss. "The boys will be here directly." At five o'clock they all arrived at the same time and came to the door where Josh and I met them at the door.
Josh introduced us all and I shook hands with each of them. They were nice but a little aloof as if they thought this was a pretty awkward situation. Josh suggested we all go out the patio and grab some beers. They were all very blue collar types, masculine, bearded with bodies that were muscular from hard work and all sported farmer's tans.
We all went out on the patio and sat down. They told Josh how good the place looked and that he had clearly done quite a bit of work to get it to this shape and then again we fell into an awkward silence where everyone was sipping their beer and looking down at their own boots.
Cal broke the silence, "Well Tom, you look just like a regular fellar." Everyone's eyes were suddenly off their boots and onto me, with inquisitive looks on how I was going to respond.
"Yeah, I guess I am Cal, I don't know what else I can tell you." I replied.
"What were you expecting him to look like, Cal?" Josh asked calmly.
"I dunno, I guess I was expecting one of them there ladyboys with a tube top, miniskirt and lipstick."
All of us roared with laughter and Zeke shook his head and said, "Cal, you're so goddamn dumb, it's pathetic."
I felt sorry for Cal so I responded, "I only wear that on Sundays, Cal." and again the group roared with laughter and some of the initial tension was broken.
Josh broke in before another awkward silence could have ensued or anyone else could say anything. "Cal, thanks for breaking the ice on this one. It gives me a chance to say some things I have been wanting to say for some time now. You boys have known me for a long time, hell, we've been through thick and thin together...
When Tom and I met, well it was like something in my soul lit up, somehow I knew this person was the missing part of my life. I was as surprised as anyone that it was a man with whom I wanted to share my life...but the moment we met, I knew this person was the one, it didn't matter what sex, race, creed, color Tom was, he was just THE ONE...
It's important for me to tell you that I am basically the same Josh you have always known. I have never hidden anything from you, no double life, I'm not a closet queer glancing at your dicks in the changing room or anything like that...
I'll be honest with Tom and you all right now, I had never had any sexual experience with a man, had never had any thoughts about man sex or even considered it as an option for me. But in our relationship, being with Tom feels natural...and I've never looked back or sideways...
I don't know what you boys think or how you feel about this. Everyone has their right to their opinion and Tom and I respect that one hundred percent. Neither of us would want to force you to accept the way we have chosen to live, but we do ask for mutual respect, that everyone has their right to their opinion and their right to live as they want to in peace.
Personally, I love you all like brothers despite all the differences we have. If you have anything you want to say, let's talk it out face to face, we are all big boys."
The group sat and looked directly at Josh and Zeke was the first to speak.
"Josh, we've known each other for a long time, I feel more like a father to you than a brother. I really appreciate you talking directly to us about this. The most meaningful thing you said to me was that you are the same Josh I have always known and trusted. If you had told me that you had been hiding who you really are from me, and that this was some kind of "coming out" and that you were afraid that I would not accept you for who you are, I would have been very sad...
For several months now, I have seen a change in you. I haven't said anything about it, but there is more light in your eyes, a spring in your step and you've been more light hearted...
Tom, yeah, Cal's right, you do look like a regular fellar, but you're not. If Josh has chosen you, you sir, are no regular fellow"...
Thanks for respecting us enough to invite us here to tell us face-to-face and for the chance to meet Tom."
