PeterGay

We arrived at the park right after lunch. It was a sunny and peaceful afternoon. We walked North to a beach less frequented by gay people and found a nice, quiet grassy area under the shade of some robust trees. We proceeded to settle down. I lay down on the towel, placed my hands behind my head, and closed my eyes -- at that very moment, the world stopped rotating. I faded for some time, I had no idea if I had gone to sleep or not -- it didn't really matter. I felt the peace I had been missi

Next day at work I goofed up everything. I couldn't distinguish a Rembrandt from a Picasso. I insisted El Greco was a contemporary of Salvador Dali. I guess I was trying to say that they were both Spanish sculptors... I mean, painters. And I would have been fired had it not been for Paul. He helped me to get out of my mistakes -- even when he swore he wouldn't have anything to do with my work and business. I guess it was his guilty consciousness for what had happened the night before. Needless t

We arrived to the bar when it was getting crowded and I didn't stop to think before we got there that I would have the same problem here as in a restaurant. And Paul, he had to have a drink, too. "Gin and tonic," I ordered. 'And a straight whiskey.' 'What?' 'A straight whiskey!' 'But you...' "A straight whiskey too. Please." I knew I had lost the argument. 'Don't worry. You just have to leave my glass there, next to yours.' 'How are you going to..?' 'Don't

"Charlie! Charlie! Wake up!" "No. Why?" "Open your eyes. It's late." "Eh? What?" "Get up!" "Who are you?!" "It's me, Paul. Get up, it's nine o'clock already." "Paul? What are you doing here? I didn't call you?" I turned to the other side. "C'mon. You want to go to the beach, don't you? It's late. Get up!" "How do you know...? Oh, yes... I know." "You'll get used to it. You'll get used to having me around." "I'm afraid so. What time is it?" "It's nine o'clock."

I fixed things sooner than I had thought. I worked on my apartment every night after work, and by the middle of the week I had everything in its place. I bought a couple of ferns to add life to the living room, some anthuriums for my dining room table and a two-tone salmon colored rose, my favorite, for my desk. I never cared to cook, but I fixed myself a meal just to try the kitchen. The telephone was connected. Everything worked perfectly. I found myself liking my apartment more and more each

"Hello?" "May I speak to Mr.... Papa-lo-vinshky?" "This is him." "My name is Lanier, Charles Lanier. I'm calling about your ad in the paper." "About the apartment?" "Yes. Your ad says it has four rooms and a bathroom. Right?" "And a balcony facing the lake." "How much are you asking for it?" "Four hundred a month. It's all carpeted, except for the kitchen, of course." "What about utilities?" "Hot and cold water are included. You pay for the rest." "Gas too?" "

The story of Charles Lanier, a young gay guy who rents an apartment on Lake Shore Drive on the near north side of Chicago, and the unexpected adventures he encounters from the day he moves in.