Trophy Cub - 25. Epilogue

Three bears and four wolves climbed aboard the flatbed behind the rainbow-painted semi as the truck prepared to pull into their spot in the Chicago Pride parade.

“I’m not expecting professional backup dancers like we had with your security team,” Susie said to the bears, “But, try to remember the choreography.”

“If you forget,” Lupita interrupted, “Just shake your big bear ass or bounce your package at the crowd and they won’t know the difference.”

Gunnar, Mike and Thomas nodded and adjusted their “costumes” which consisted of skin-tight rainbow-striped sequined briefs, white leather sneakers, and white leather chest harnesses. Mike had put a bit of weight on in the weeks following his first shift just as Gunnar had predicted, and he now had a slightly round padded belly covering his solid abdominal muscles, but his massive chest, shoulder and arm muscles still bulged with raw power just like his Papa.

The parade kicked off and the truck moved forward with Tim behind the wheel and Pip sitting next to him working the music, lights, and sound controls.

The She-Wolves took their positions and sang a medley of Madonna, Cher, and Lady Gaga songs on a loop for the entire duration of the parade, while the bears performed the choreography as taught to them by Susie and Dixie and shook their money-makers.

At the end of the parade route, the bears and the She-Wolves were mobbed by a crowd of adoring fans, and the owner of the gay nightclub hosting that night’s major Pride party event approached the group asking if they could do a last-minute performance at his club. The headline performer scheduled for that night had suddenly cancelled, and he needed a popular and fun group to fill in.

“I just need you to perform for two hours tonight from 10 pm until midnight, and then we switch over to a DJ and dance music for the rest of the night. I’ll pay you whatever you want, but I need all four drag queens on the main stage, and the three beefcake bears on the go-go dancer platforms out in the middle of the dance floor.”

“Ooh, Gunnar…” Susie said with a scheming look in her eye, “We could really use the extra money! You’ll do it for me, won’t you…? Please?”

“I don’t know, Susie,” Gunnar replied, “Being a backup dancer in the parade was fun, but I don’t know if I can be a go-go dancer in a nightclub.”

“Aw, come on, Papa” Mike said. “It’ll be fun! I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a male stripper!”

“We are not stripping, Cub!” Gunnar said sternly, “Go-go dancing involves remaining clothed. Besides, there are three of us involved, and we haven’t asked Thomas his opinion yet.”

The She-Wolves, bears and the club owner all turned to Thomas.

“It’s your call, little bear,” Gunnar said, “Our vote is split one to one right now, so you’ll cast the deciding vote. Do we dance for the She-Wolves’ performance at the club, or do we bow out gracefully and retire from the life of exotic dancing?”

“Is there a chance that I’m going to get laid by a bunch of hot guys if I dance again at the club tonight?” Thomas asked.

“I’d say with your looks, it’s guaranteed,” the club owner replied.

“Then I’m in,” Thomas said. “You just hired yourself some drag queens and go-go bears for the night!”

The club performance wasn’t as horrible as Gunnar expected. They were on three raised platforms in the middle of the dance floor to keep most of the grabby hands away, and the crowd really went wild over them. Mike was worried that he didn’t have the dance moves for a two-hour performance without looking like a complete nerd, but Linda and Lupita showed them all a few extra moves before things got started that they could use in combination with the parade choreography to keep things spicy until the show was over.

When they were done the DJ cranked up the music and lights on the dance floor and Mike and Gunnar headed to the bar to have a beer and chat with some of the men hanging around them, while Thomas disappeared for an hour with a few of his more persistent fans.

Mike and Gunnar were finishing up their third or fourth beers and considering forming a search party when Thomas casually strolled up to the bar with his arm around a hot little muscle-bear. Mike did a quick double-take when he saw the guy Thomas was with, and before he could stop himself, he shouted…

“Sam!”

“That’s right. Do I know you?” the muscle-bear said. “You look sort of familiar, but I can’t quite place where we may have met.”

“Oh, well…” Mike said, “I used to hang out in the bars in Milwaukee a few years ago, and I remember meeting you there once.” He held out his hand to shake, “My name’s Mike.”

“Mike? That’s funny, my best friend’s name was Mike,” Sam said with a sad look clouding over his face. “We were best friends since college, and we fooled around with each other a bit, you know?”

Mike nodded. He knew.

“He went out to the bar one night about two years ago and just disappeared. Nobody has seen or heard from him since. I reported it to the police, and they pretended to search for him, but nobody really seemed to give a shit that he was gone except for me.”

Sam reached up with his hand and wiped a few tears away from his eyes.

“I wish my Mike could be here with me right now. He was a real bear lover, and he was always on the hunt, looking for his Mr. Right, but he had self-image problems and was always too afraid to go up and talk to anyone. You guys are just his type, especially this one,” Sam said giving Thomas a big squeeze and a kiss on the lips. “But if he was here, I’d still be keeping this hot bear all to myself,” and he kissed Thomas again.

“Hey guys,” Thomas said after Sam came up for air. “Sam here smells really good. Go ahead, you have to smell him.”

Gunnar and Mike leaned in with their noses near Sam’s neck and inhaled. Lights flashed in Mike’s brain as he detected a mysterious, attractive, and spicy scent. He looked over at his Papa.

Gunnar gave Mike a wink and looked at Sam.

“Sam, let’s find a spot where we can talk in private. I think we’re going to become very good friends, and we have a lot to tell you.”