The End of the Rainbow (10 page)

“What do you mean no, I haven’t asked you for anything. I just wanted a hug. I love my mommy.”

“Lauren do you really think that trick is going to work?”

“It used too. I’m confused now, what’s going on here?” She said with a look of bewilderment.

The doorbell rang and Lauren leaped off the couch with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. As she ran to the door, she yelled back to her mother, “I’ll give you time to think it over, mommy that I love.” Vanessa heard the excited screams of the girls and prepared herself for their greeting. She stood in the middle of the floor trying to figure out who would be the bigger fool; her for giving Lauren money; or Lauren for going with her friends with no money at all.

The girls entered the room and gave Vanessa hugs and kisses. They were already starting to catch up with each other when Vanessa called Lauren over to her. “Go upstairs and get four hundred dollars out of my wallet.” Lauren smiled, gave her a hug and told the girls she would be right back.

“Ya’ll ready.” Lauren asked as she ran back downstairs clutching her black Coach bag.

“You know it girl.” They all responded in their own little way.

“Can you ladies please be careful?” Vanessa said.

“Yes mom. We’ll be safe, don’t worry.” they all replied. Lauren walked over, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and headed out the door with her friends. Vanessa stood in the doorway and watched the girls pile into the car. She sent up a prayer of protection on their behalf and walked back into the house. She closed the door behind her and joined Yolanda in singing, “The battle is the Lord’s.”

EIGHT

“Where in the hell is Kerry?” Khalil asked while scanning the shore for any sign of his friend.

“Why don’t you call him on his cell phone?” Spencer asked.

“I’ve been trying but he must have it turned off because I keep getting his voice mail.”

“You know he’s going to be here. This is something he wouldn’t dare miss, so just be patient, baby.” Tyrin said as he sipped on his cocktail.

As the day went on and more people flooded the sandy Malibu shore, familiar faces started to appear out of nowhere. Khalil saw old acquaintances from high school and college. Tyrin came across Craig’s ex-girlfriend, who was now in a loving relationship with a beautiful woman.

They saw people they used to go on double dates with that were now single. Of course with each old face there was also a dramatic story attached to it. Many of the young kids that came out when Tyrin and Khalil first got together, now looked twice their age; and they could obviously see that the club scene had played a toll on their youth. He listened to the stories one by one and exchanged hugs of love and support. Khalil thanked God that he was able to avoid most of the drama and was in a relationship that most gay men would kill for.

“It’s about damn time I found y’all. Do you have any idea how many fucking people are out here!” Kerrion shouted as he and Andre walked towards the crowd of friends. “Shit, I’m ready to take my ass back home. This is some bullshit. We had to park damn near in Oakland, then cart our asses to the shuttle stop; wait fifteen damn minutes for the bitch to come and then walk the entire west coast shore looking for you guys.” Kerrion said with extreme frustration.

“Why didn’t you call us from your cell?” Khalil asked.

“I forgot to charge the motherfucker. I turned the shit on and it cut right the fuck off.”

“Well all that aside, we’re glad you made it. Do you want something to drink?” Tyrin asked.

“No I’m cool.”

“What about you man?” Tyrin asked Andre.

“No, I’m good, just glad to finally be sitting down.” Andre answered.

“I am so sorry. Everybody, this is Andre. That’s Brian, this is the infamous couple Tyrin and Khalil, and that’s Spencer, you remember him from last weekend, right?” Kerrion asked.

“Yeah I do, good to see you again man. It’s nice to meet the rest of you as well.”

“Is this your first time at L.A Pride?” Brian asked.

“Actually it is. I’m a late bloomer.”

“Well, better late than never. Like Tyrin said, we’re glad you’re here and we hope you enjoy the rest of the festivities.” Khalil said.

“Did ya’ll go out last night?” Tyrin asked them.

“Yeah, and that was an experience, to say the least. I’ve heard about L.A. Black Pride weekend, but what I saw last night was really unexpected. All the people and the line to even get into the club was crazy. It took us almost an hour to get inside. The music was off the chain though, I love to dance and the D.J. was tight.” Andre said.

“Tonight is going to be just as packed. But at least the lobby at the Hilton gives you a place to breathe.” Spencer said.

“Speaking of tonight, I need you to straighten my hair.” Khalil said to Spencer with a plastic smile on his face.

“Bitch you crazy. I’m going to be tired after I get through baking under this hot ass sun. I was planning on taking a nap and then getting dressed to go out.” Spencer said.

“This so called nap you plan on taking is going to be at my house anyway. So while you’re there, just do me this little favor.”

“Favor? Bitch, that ain’t no favor, that’s labor. Do you know how long your curly ass hair is? And on top of that, I would be doing it for free. Hell no, it ain’t happening.” Spencer dug his feet into the sand and waved at one of the cute boys that walked by.

”You know you are going to do it, so stop tripping before I beat your ass.” Khalil said as he reached into the ice chest.

“Beat my ass? You’ll miss the after party, because I ain’t no easy win. You better get your bitch in order Tyrin; get your bitch, is all I got to say.” Spencer said as he rolled his eyes.

“Don’t pay them any attention; this is how they show love for each other.” Kerrion explained to Andre.

As the music from the main stage serenaded the festival, it created an atmosphere of love and unity. Everywhere you looked you saw happiness. From the couples that sat hand in hand on their blankets talking and holding each other; to the children that came with their same sex parents for a day of fun in the sun. This moment was when everyone that had ever been hurt because of their sexuality could somehow throw all of their pains into the crashing waves and start fresh with the retraction of the tide.

No one here ever wanted to be hurt, abandoned, or made to feel like they didn’t belong; but as the cruelty of mainstream society would have it, that was something almost all gays had endured at one time or another. The beach party was not just a gay thing; it was an escape from the world and all the people that don’t want gays in it. Despite the competition amongst the gay hierarchy, if you were here, you were in a place full of the people that accepted you for who you are and not who you love.

*****

“You’re kidding!” Andre exclaimed.

“What?” Kerrion confusedly asked.

“This is their house?” he continued, as he stared in awe through the windshield.

“Yes it is. And please act like you are used to this, even if you aren’t.” Kerrion begged.As the Range Rover pulled into the garage, Kerrion parked in the driveway next to Spencer’s black Lexus GS. Andre sat and gawked at the beautiful white structure that was home to two Black gay men of substance. He got out of the car and admired the perfectly landscaped desert shrub courtyard that led to the main entrance of the home.

“Come on Andre.” Kerrion said, looking at him from over the roof of the car. “I’m really not used to this kind of stuff and I don’t want to embarrass you.” He leaned in and whispered back.

Kerrion closed his door, walked over to him and grabbed his hands. He looked directly into his eyes and with the comforting voice of a parent talking to their child on the first day of pre-school, said, “It’s just a house made of wood, glass and tile, that’s all. It’s just that their wood has probably been treated to protect from salt-water erosion. The glass has been glazed and protected to withstand a Tsunami; and the floor tile actually heats up, not like the tile that causes frostbite on winter mornings.” He smiled at him, still looking into his eyes. “If you’re nervous now, just wait until you get inside.” he said squeezing his hands as a sign of support.

“Gee, thanks.” he said.

“No problem. Can we go in now?”

“I really have no choice do I?”

“Nope.”

“Then let’s do this,
man
.” he replied with a Chris Tucker impersonation.

Andre followed Kerrion like a lost puppy as they walked through garage and into the game room that housed the pool table, fully stocked wet bar, and arcade style Ms. Pac Man and Galaga games. He noticed pictures of the couple that must have been taken on various trips and outings. There were pictures of them in the snow, at the beach, on a cruise, and a really magnificent photo of them on a cliff at what seems to have been their commitment ceremony. He was in awe by what he had seen so far and the rest of the house was sure to make him go weak in the knees. He took a deep breath and proceeded to follow Kerrion out of the room and upstairs onto the main floor.

Upstairs, everyone was busy getting themselves ready to relax. When Khalil noticed Andre and Kerrion enter the room he tried his best to make Andre feel welcome and at home. He was a little apprehensive; first when he noticed Tosha looking suspiciously at him; and second when it was time to sit on the costly looking furniture. Even though Khalil overemphasized the fact that she was well trained and wouldn’t bite, to play it safe he opted to step outside with Tyrin who was about to light the grill for Khalil.

He walked outside and was taken aback by the view it provided. The ocean breeze kissed his face and the sound of crashing waves created the perfect ambiance. He looked over the balcony and saw people jogging along the shore, or taking their dogs on an evening walk. The colors of the sunset were warm and beautiful, forcing him to stare directly at its tranquil smile. He was beyond impressed, and although he knew this was a long way away from his current salary, the hope it provided was unmatched.

“So, are you having a good time?” Tyrin asked as he poured coals into the grill.

“Man, I’m having a ball. I can’t believe how cool everyone has been. And in all honesty I am amazed at your house. I never thought two brothers could live like this.”

“Yeah well, once you have found the person that you want to be with for the rest of your life, and actually sit down and talk everything out; what you want, what they want, what you will and will not put up with; then it can honestly happen.”

“I just never thought relationships in this lifestyle had any type of life expectancy.” He shrugged.

“They usually don’t, but I consider myself lucky.”

“You got that right, look at this crib, and I haven’t even seen the rest of it.”

“Dre. I would be with Khalil in a studio apt in Compton. Don’t get me wrong, I love this house and the things inside of it, but my love for him surpasses the material.”

“I feel you. I would love to have something like that. I guess seeing the two of you has given me a newfound hope in gay relationships that I never dreamed possible.”

“Glad I could help little brother. Now don’t get it twisted, there are going to be days when you are going to have fights and disagreements, but as long you realize that it is just a fight, and not a reason to end what you have worked so hard to build, you more than likely will make it. The reason a lot of couples split is because they don’t want to go through the rough times that are bound to happen before the good times start to flourish.”

“Well, what about public opinion?” Andre asked.

“What about it? The public is going to talk about you regardless. If you were with a woman and abusing her, they would talk. If you were a deadbeat dad, they would talk. You have to make up in your mind that you don’t care about what the public has to say. I have been called every derogative name in the book because of my sexuality. But look at my house. Look at my ride. Look at my business. Hell, look at my working relationship with a man. Everything that people said I wouldn’t have, I got. So my motto is, ‘Fuck em’, plain and simple.”

Andre grinned and told Tyrin he liked his motto. They watched the flames grow on the grill and as Tyrin shared more of his relationship pointers with his newfound mentee, his student listened attentively as if he was being given the code to the meaning of life.

Spencer sat on the couch watching a movie, making a concerted effort not to doze off. He knew that if he went to sleep there would be no flat ironed hair and maybe not even an after party. Khalil and Kerrion were in the kitchen getting dinner together. Khalil was like a head chef as he ordered Kerrion around; instructing him to wash lettuce, cut tomatoes and slice cucumbers. He also used this time as an opening for conversation about Andre. He wanted to make sure that Kerry was not being his normal crude self and pushing yet another opportune suitor away.

“So talk to me.” Khalil said.

“About what?”

“What’s wrong with this one? Let me hear it.” He stated, as he poured yellow rice into the cooker.

“I don’t think it’s him, I think it’s me. I have issues. I can’t shake the past and it’s really starting to get on my nerves. There is actually nothing wrong with him. He’s polite, seems to really be interested in the things I talk about, and from what I can tell he is an honest guy that isn’t trying to play games. He even told me that he would have come down here to visit even if it wasn’t Pride weekend. And did you see how he hovered over me at the beach, like he was protecting me from something.” He said with a subtle smile that unexpectedly slipped out.

“But? What’s your excuse this time?” Khalil asked, sensing that Kerrion had some apprehensions about the situation.

“They are all like that in the beginning. I mean honestly, brothers come across as God’s gift when you first meet them. They reel you in like a fish on a hook, and then throw you into the hot ass frying pan. I just can’t go through that again, I refuse to. Fuck that shit. I’m still keeping my options open, because I will never be that dumb again for another man.”” Kerrion said, snapping himself out of bliss and back into defense mode.

Khalil momentarily overlooked his outburst and finished preparing the shrimp skewers. He took caution in his response to Kerrion’s bitter display of emotions because he wasn’t in the mood to deal with the aftermath of pushing the wrong buttons. As they both moved throughout the kitchen like men on a mission, he finally had his thoughts together and decided it was now or never. “You need to get over Jamar, and you need to get over him right here and right now. He is eating you up and causing you to become a person that you hate. You are turning into a mean and closed in bitch. And if you don’t put him behind you, you will be alone for the rest of your life. What he did to you was not your fault, and it’s not the fault of anyone else that you may meet. Where is Jamar now?”

“What?” Kerrion asked.

“Please, don’t play coy. I asked you where is Jamar.”

“How in the hell should I know?” He snapped.“Exactly. He is off somewhere living his life and fucking up someone else’s, just like he fucked you up. I have stood by and watched you date a countless number of men since the two of you broke up, and not all of them have been bad. You have had guys ready to give you the world, but instead of clinging on to the happiness that someone else was trying to offer you, you chose to spit on them and run away. If you would have just laid low for at least a couple of months and gotten in touch with yourself again, you probably would have gotten over him the proper way.”

“And what is the proper way, Mr. Have all the fucking answers?” Kerrion sarcastically asked.

“I don’t care if you get pissed off at me, because you will just have to get over it. You needed to heal and I told you that over and over. Instead, you wanted to run the streets, hit the clubs, bars, and all of the other spots. I told you to just stay home and get to know you, and find out what you wanted, so you wouldn’t get caught up again. How many guys have you been with since him?” Khalil looked at him and noticed that his eyes were beginning to water up, but he couldn’t stop talking because this was something that he needed to hear. “Exactly. You don’t know do you? I have watched you go from, Black to Mexican to Puerto Rican to White and Black again. Your ass has gone full circle, literally. You allowed Jamar to become your pimp, because you clearly turned into a whore after he left you.”