"One Night, Why Not"

[Agincourt]

This post is about the short story One Night, Why Not appearing in the "Shorts" section.

 

You may not want to read this post before reading the actual story first, because it may contain spoilers.

 

This story, in an unusual twist, is told in the second person point-of-view. I usually detest this POV, but in this particular story, it works magnificently. The effect is to put you (the reader) in the position of the participant in the story.

 

The premise is set out in the opening paragraphs -- you have only recently come out to your friends, and they are now getting ready to take you to a gay bar downtown for the first time. (As becomes obvious during the story, these are some of the hippest friends you could hope to have.)

 

It's something you've NEVER done before. Something you certainly wouldn't have done a couple of months ago when you finally told your first 'victim' that you were gay. But it's your 23rd birthday tonight, and after slowly struggling with the tension filled task of coming out of the closet over the past 10 weeks...you've decided that you're going to actually find a USE for this newfound freedom of yours!

 

Despite the desperate and valiant attempts of your new gay friends to get you to open up and actually become a part of the 'gay scene' in the downtown area, you've always refused them. You dreaded doing it. You've heard about the meat markets, the drag queens, and have been inundated with dark stories of heartbreak, drug use, and diseases that spread like wildfire in places like that. But after years of repressed sexuality and hiding from yourself, you've made the decision to give in. Much to your friends' surprise!

Every step of the evening involves overcoming fear, shyness, and nervousness -- yet each time the main character (that is, you) overcomes another challenge, it is incredibly gratifying -- and these hip friends are there to cheer you on. And the experience, and the freedom, are exhilarating.

 

As the evening progresses, the stars just seem to align again and again. Eventually the main character (you) ends up meeting a totally hot guy who is amazed that you are at the gay bar so soon after coming out. One thing leads to another during a long conversation at the bar, and the next thing you know you are kissing this guy at the bar (as your hip friends cheer you on from their table), and he bashfully asks whether you'd like to leave with him. You go back to your table of friends to apologize for leaving your own birthday celebration, and they practically push you out the door to go with this guy. Of course, back at the apartment, sparks fly. It is simply a triumphant evening, a Cinderella-like experience of magic.

 

I don't know what it is about this story that affects me so, but it is simply brilliant. I've read it at least half a dozen times and it never grows old.

 

Well done!

 

A