One Little Thing

“You are a serious badass, Carl.” He told me resting his face in a hand.

“And don’t you forget it,” I told him standing and my phone rang. My Company phone.

It was a directive to zoom. And I waited.

“Carl?”

“Yes.”

“This is, JB.”

“Sir” I mean really.

“Call me, Jeff. I think you are underperforming.”

“What?” Honestly? That made no fuckin sense.

“That might have cum out wrong. I think we have undervalued you. I want you upstairs with me. And what the hell happened to you?”

“Sir. I can make shit happen with my team and that is a value to our company.” I was sure of that.

“You look like shit and do you understand what I’m offering?” I saw it in his face.

“I think I do.”

“I don’t think so. I just offered you one of six positions under me. Do you understand what that would mean?”

“I don’t understand why you would even waste your time talking to me, Sir.”

“I see potential you might not see. I’ve had my eye on you for a while. I kind of have a gift that way. I have been watching you for over a year. I do appreciate the roll you play; I have no doubt you will be successful.” And the screen went black.

“What do you do, Carl?” He asked from behind; such question in his voice.

I turned to look at him, “I have no fuckin idea but I get paid a butt load of money.”

“Dude? Carl? You were just talking to the richest man in the world. Do you even know?”

“I know I would go with you if we rolled down streets of fire. I was there you know?” And my eyes got wet with a smile on my face.

“I saw you. I knew I was going to cry.”

“I’m sorry I left.” I really was.

“OK. So if I gave you my hand would you take it and make me the happiest man in the world?” He didn’t sing it but it was close.

“What if I asked you that, Kyle? Would you?” I needed to know.

“OK. You are just clowning around now. I would live with you in a car or a box under an overpass. That guy just offered you, god, only, knows, how much; why’d you turn him down?”

That was a really good question and I didn’t have an answer. I suddenly realized I might have turned down millions of dollars only to make many more for the boss. I mean to be on Jeff’s team, one of six, the first year would be eight figures plus stock.

“I’m cold.” and I sat down next to him then melted into him behind me. I fell asleep wrapped in his wings and dreamt.

The man holding me; we had a history. I saw his face over the years, when he looked at me the way he does now for the first time, I remembered that. I felt him pull me tighter, his hands and arms, “I’m sorry, Carl.”

“I love you, too.” I’m sure I said it out loud.

I woke up to him kissing my neck, sucking my ear, and holding me. “This is a little gay, don’t you think?” And he squeezed me.

“What did I do, Kyle?”

“You told your boss, the richest man in the world, to suck your balls.” And he squeezed me harder. “Well not in so many words, but.” And I felt him chuckle behind me.

“You could be living on your own Island tomorrow. But you won’t.”

“What did I do?”

“Well. You didn’t tell him to suck your balls, in so many words.” And he cupped mine.

“Is there more?” And I pushed back against him.

“You need to define, more.”

“What? I need, like, specifics. Can I fix any of this?” And I felt him behind me; his answer didn’t matter.

“There our boys,” My mom said to his. “What the hell happened to you,” mine said to me?

“He hit me,” He said to his.

“Do you want me to lift up my shirt?” I asked back to him.

“We’re good. That’s all you need to know.” I said to all of them.

We ate an awesome meal looking around the table whose faces we had for years. Our dad’s and mom’s talked; we all talked, and we were silent for a while. We both saw the questioning looks, then they’d look among themselves.

“Mom? Can we go upstairs for a minute?” I asked after dinner like a little kid.

She followed me to her room and I asked, “Can you fix this?” moving my hand around my face.

She turned her head like a dog, not understanding. Then it dawned on her. “I can’t fix the busted lip but I can make the eye, less noticeable.” And she told me to sit in front of her mirror.

She took that time to question me like a lawyer, asked questions that I didn’t need to answer because she knew; had always known. “You boys can stay here tonight, in your room, if you want?” And I looked at her in the mirror.

“Did you read his letters, Honey?” She asked.

“He read them to me last night and this morning,” I told her and she nodded.

“Do you think I never looked in on you two?” She had a smile. “It didn’t matter that you were boys cuddled up like you were, I have always been happy you had Kyle.” And she put some shit under my eye.

“It’s not what you think, Mom.”

“You have no idea what I think, young man. The fact is, I don’t care. His Mom doesn’t either; none of us do. Even with black eyes and cut lips you two look as happy as you ever have. Now lean back a little.” And I did as I was told.

“Ok, I’m done.” And I looked at myself in the mirror.

All around my eye was skin tone; gone was the black and blue. She shaded the swelling and on camera, I would look better than normal except for the heavy lid. “Thanks, Mom,” I said in the mirror.

We walked back down the stairs and Kyle was telling the story of this morning. He was embellishing, as he can sometimes. Telling them I’d turned down a king’s ransom, had told the richest man in the world to suck my weaner, and then he saw me.

“You are such a dick.” He said pointing at me.

 “I own my shit; I’ll wear this eye till it fades on its’ own.” That was not received well.

“That’s fine for you but I have meetings and you heard this morning. And if you want, when that eye fades, I’ll blacken the other one.” And he stood.

Sit your ass down,” His dad said and my mom slapped the back of my head.

“I brought a pie,” His mom announced standing. Fuckin Moms.

Now our Moms were in the kitchen and we were left with Dads. “You boys have never laid a finger on each other; what the fuck?” That was my dad.

Ok, bite the inside of your cheek. We had laid more than fingers on each other for years. I think my dad’s words had just made it to his ears; it was a funny look on his face.

Mom’s came back out with pie and mine announced she told me we could stay in my room tonight. Kyle put his hand on my arm and I told him she used to look in on us and asked if he was willing to risk that. “I did too.” His mom said.

“Really, Mom? You looked in on us?” He asked.

“That’s what Mom’s do, Honey. It was the sweetest thing; you boys. I knew this day would cum and I’m so… happy I’m still alive to see it.” She had tears.

“Ok, Mom. We’ll stay but I’m putting my dresser in front of the door.” And I took his hand.