It had been two weeks, but yesterday was the day. Yesterday was the day my family and I met the exchange student - for the first time - that my wife, Tammy, lobbied to recruit to Agricultural and Science University and asked me to hire as an intern.
With great anticipation, the entire family gathered at the ranch. I had bought wagu steaks and cobbed corn to grill; Lori made potato salad, Sarah made red beans with bacon and a salad, and Matthew and Michael fried shrimp and boiled lobster. Melissa sat around looking pretty, sipping her wine coolers.
As we were waiting on the patio, Tammy's Navigator drove up and parked. With a huge smile and sparkling eyes, Tammy jumped out and ran to the passenger side, opened the door, and Shiro Kai stepped out.
Standing at almost six feet and weighing roughly two hundred and forty pounds, with dark, short, well-groomed hair, blue slacks, and a tan button-down shirt, Shiro was a handsome young man who looked excited, amazed, and a bit scared all at the same time. His eyes were wide, and his smile looked forced; his body appeared stiff as if he were the prey and we were the hunters.
Tammy yelled, "Hi, everyone! Please meet Shiro!"
Everyone introduced themselves as we continued to work and finished preparing the food for dinner. Shiro became a little more relaxed and at ease as time passed. Melissa took hold of his arm almost immediately after dinner, and he became very comfortable with her, drinking her girly wine coolers and giggling, staying close to her side.
"Come and get it! Dinner is ready to be served!" I shouted as Michael rang the dinner bell.
Forty-five minutes later, after we finished eating our meal, Michael and Matthew walked over to me, and we stood and looked back at the family. Everyone was laughing and having a good time. Angel was sitting with Michelle and being quite attentive to her while everyone else mingled about and talked or played games.
Only Tyler and Jacob were missing. Oh, how badly I missed those two men!
In a whispered tone, Matthew said, "Melissa has new prey!"
"Possibly, but I'm not too sure about that. You and I know Melissa can be charming when she wants to be." I answered.
The truth was that I had seen Shiro looking at Matthew, Michael, Angel, and myself for just a little too long. But naturally, I shook off any thought I had, telling myself that everyone couldn't be gay, everything couldn't be queer. Or could it be? I didn't know anymore.
As I continued to watch Shiro, I noticed he was, indeed, watching the men more than he seemed to be interested in Melissa. Although he was discrete, he looked at Angel's crotch at one point; I caught him looking at mine. I mean, hadn't I?
Also, Shiro's face lit up when the men talked to him, unlike when a lady did.
But again, I felt as if I were imagining things.
Later, after we had eaten dessert, the mood relaxed as I played the guitar, Tammy and Melissa sang, and everyone had a little more to drink while Michelle, Lori, and Sarah cleaned the patio and kitchen.
"Shiro, do you have much luggage?" Matthew asked.
"Does he ever!" Tammy quickly replied. "The entire back end of the Navigator is packed with his things."
"Well, I'll get the Gator, and Michael and I can take you and your luggage to the bunkhouse, you know, and show you the property." Matthew said.
"No. You don't have to do that. Put everything in the Club House, and he can sleep there tonight. Angel and I will get him settled in tomorrow." I said.
Everyone did more eating. More drinks were drunk, and additional time passed. Shiro was relaxing but still very stiff. As the party continued and music played, Angel approached me and said, "I think the Japanese boy is checking you out!"
"Really? Because I was thinking he was drooling over you!" I replied.
"Man! I was thinking he looked at all of us. Hell, I thought it was just my paranoia!" Angel said.
The party ended, Tammy settled Shiro into the Club House, and I told him to meet Angel and me at the patio table at 7 a.m.