Unexpected Angel (8 page)
Authors: Patrick McGhee
As Tony drove off, he had trouble swallowing the lump in his throat. There was not going to be a symbolic and sensual episode with Wally bathing him and then wrapping him in a beach towel for a sensual pat down. They wouldn’t be spending the night together in the double bed. Tony had made it all up to control Wally and his wallet. Instead, Tony would deliberately disappoint the man who loved him. Oh, well, he thought. Stuff happens. He’ll get over it.
Chapter 12
As Wally crossed the parking lot at Walmart, his steps had a certain zing, a bounce set to the music in his heart. Tony was coming to spend the night. Things were going to change. Tony was coming tonight. No more broken promises. No more waiting. No more tears. No more saddened heart. Tony was coming. Wally hummed snappy tunes. He whistled softly. He smiled at folks he had never seen. He greeted people he had never met. The world was playing a symphony. Everything danced. The air came alive with lusty Latin rhythms. Colors were brighter. Smells were sweeter. Tony was coming tonight.
Wally smiled a warm, happy smile at the greeter. She must have been close to seventy. Wally wondered if her smile was forced, or if she was actually as happy as her face projected. Did she have someone special in her life? Or, had she learned to smile in spite of that? Wally had learned to do both. Tonight, for a change, he would have someone special. Tony was coming. The rhythm of that phrase, that thought, waltzed through his head. Then it jitterbugged and tangoed.
No pizza for them tonight. Wally didn’t like pizza; he didn’t even like cheese. Yes, he was one of
those
people. Strange indeed. He loved everything Italian--the actresses, the sports cars, the leaning tower of Pisa, Michelangelo’s
David
, even the sound of the language–everything Italian, except cheese. It didn’t matter. Tony knew all about it. So . . . Wally swaggered and smiled and breathed to the lilt of
Tony is coming tonight
as he loaded the shopping cart with pretzels, frozen corn dogs, mustard, peanuts, light beer, diet cola, and some popcorn just in case they ran out of other food. He was happy, even in the line at checkout. Seventeen registers and only three clerks. Who cared? Not he. Tony was coming tonight to stay.
When Wally got home, he got busy putting things away, preparing himself and his apartment for the arrival of Tony Danforth. Wally’s imagination produced a monologue as he worked. Ah, Tony’s name has a dignified sound to it–a sound of prominence–maybe even political power. Tony Danforth. He might be president one day. And I . . . I would know that I had slept with the president. Well, so would a lot of other people. They wouldn’t know that I had slept with him. They would know that they had. But, I would be the one who loved him. That’s the problem. He would never let me set foot in the White House. As much as we love each other–it might show on our faces. Then, I would gasp when I saw us on one of those trashy magazines at the grocery store checkout. Come to think of it, he would probably have all kinds of young dudes, just barely out of college, hanging around him like glittering ornaments on a Christmas tree. They would be trying to get jobs with official government titles, just so they’d be available on request. He wouldn’t pick one of them, would he? Wouldn’t he call me on our own private hot line and tell me how hot he was for me? Or, would he just grab one of those silly things and have a night that I wouldn’t know about? Oh, I’m starting to upset myself. It will never happen. I’ll win
the lottery first.
When Wally was satisfied with the way the apartment looked, he took a shower and brushed his teeth. He wanted to smell good and be kissable, something that Tony, the maxi-stud, would want to hold, to cuddle, to make love to.
Wally glanced at his watch. It was only three o’clock. Tony wouldn’t be there until around seven. Wally decided to take a nap. After all, this was the last day of his four-day weekend. A snooze would make things easier at work tomorrow. Wally doubted he would get much sleep. If they made up for lost time, they would be
busy
all night. Wally thought, It’s terrible. I’m so starved for a man and his warm body next to me. I really am as corny as Nebraska in August. No, I’ve got the words wrong. It must be another state. Crap! I’m on the way to being a monumental ding-a-ling at the moment. I’m in love. And, Tony is coming tonight.
Wally fell asleep on the couch. The words he had been uttering were still on his lips. Tony is coming tonight. He didn’t wake up until after eight o’clock. Magenta and violet hues of the sunset were illuminating the living room. Tony wasn’t there to share it with him. The phone had not rung while Wally was napping. He
always
heard the phone when he was asleep. The doorbell, too. It never failed to wake him. Tony had not come.
Wally was hungry. He fixed a snack, careful not to eat the things he had bought for Tony and himself. Well, he did drink one bottle of the beer. That was allowed. He was upset. He drank it slowly, wondering, pondering. Where was Tony?
It was nearly ten o’clock when Wally decided to spend some time on the computer until Tony arrived. At eleven o’clock–still no Tony. Wally watched the news. He fell asleep on the sofa.
He woke up at three o’clock in the morning. He hurried to his bedroom. Tony was not there. He looked in the shower. Not there either. Maybe the closets . . . No. Perhaps under the dining room table . . . No luck. At last, Wally stopped his searching. He stood dumbfounded. Tony was not coming!
The smiles of Walmart withered. Music no longer waltzed and jitterbugged and tangoed through his mind. The dance floor was empty. Tony was not there. Tony was not coming tonight. Wally went to bed alone.
At five o’clock, Wally woke up to the screeching of his alarm clock. He got out of bed and started the coffee brewing. He needed to get ready for work.
**********
At seven o’clock, Tony woke up to the chirping of a different alarm clock in another apartment. He had to disentangle himself from the arms of the tire technician who was still asleep. He jumped in the shower. Tony needed to get ready to drive to Northbrook. His brother, Charlie, a roofing contractor, had a job waiting for him.
***********
After Wally finished dressing, he ate a pop-tart and drank another cup of coffee. He wasn’t satisfied. A trip to the freezer and the microwave produced a sizzling corn dog, almost too hot to eat. Wally looked at it. See what you are missing, Tony. A single tear trickled down his face.
***********
Meanwhile, after Tony finished dressing, he consumed a doughnut and a can of cola. He wasn’t satisfied. The fridge yielded a piece of leftover pizza. Tony retrieved it from the microwave. He looked out the window at the early sunshine of a glorious day. I’m sorry Wally. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Can you ever forgive me? He swallowed another lump in his throat.
***********
On his way to work, around eight o’clock, Wally had to stop at a traffic light. He saw Tony’s car coming up Neville Terrace headed for the Turnpike. Tony must be on his way to Northbrook to work for his brother, Wally predicted. I hope he will commute from Poplar Hill, like he talked about earlier. He will be better off coming home to me each day. But, on second thought, he might be just telling me stuff I want to hear. I forgive you, Tony. I hope you know that. Another tear trickled down his face.
Chapter 13
Wally headed downtown to the office. He was thankful. He had seen Tony and shed only one tear. Was he developing a tough-skinned resistance to Tony Danforth’s drama? Probably not. Wally’s tears did little but produce wet cheeks and a snotty nose. Tony would continue to be an adult brat, doing as he pleased, with no regard for the feelings of those who loved him, or those who thought they loved him. Love has a mind of its own, paying little attention to good sense or reason. It is strange how much folks will put up with.
Wally arrived at work about five minutes late. Mileah seized upon this to try to find out all she could. She spoke, “Wally Jackson! It’s about time you got here. My goodness, you look tired enough to be dead. Either you stayed up late having a good time, or you stayed up late waiting on somebody who was having a good time somewhere else. Tell Mama Mil’. Which is it?”
Wally mustered a little smile. He knew Mileah was going to fish until she hooked something. “Well, I wasn’t exactly having a good time. I . . .”
“I know,” interrupted Mileah. “It was that Danforth guy. Honey, don’t you know he is a hopeless gigolo? You are wasting your time and your money on him.”
Wally nodded. “I love him more than anyone I ever met in my life. I can’t understand how he can do me this way.”
“That’s what he feeds on, honey . . . He knows how you feel. He probably loves you, too. But, it is hard to be sure until you run out of money or learn to say no. In any event, he thrives on the way you feed his ego and his pocketbook. Those things are more important to some men than getting their belly fed. One of my sorry boyfriends was that way. I know what I’m talking about.”
“You mean he’s really using me, and all of his passion is just pretending.”
“I’m sorry, Wally. I don’t want to hurt you, but it looks like that might be the case. Most men are sorry losers who don’t really care about anyone but themselves.”
Norman, who had overheard this part of the conversation, cleared his throat. “Well, I know a few men who are not like that. Me, for instance, I’ll have you know, I spend a lot of my time giving my women just exactly what they’ve dreamed about. And, they are very grateful for such a generous offering. Most of them come back for more.”
“Well, honey bun. I will admit you are blessed with plenty of what it takes to please a woman. I know. I felt satisfied enough to last me for a week or more.” Mileah put her hand over her mouth. “Oops! Shut my mouth! I do believe I wasn’t supposed to tell about that.”
Wally chuckled. “You mean you . . . and Norman . . . you all have done it? Oh, this is so wicked, so funny.”
“Yes, Wally dear. You remember the day you told us about lending Tony seven hundred dollars? Well, Norman and I got together that evening. I will tell you, he’s a hot number. You would love it.”
Wally added. “I have so . . . so dreamed about it.”
“Well,” said Norman. “I’d be happy to share it with you. I’m packing plenty. But, you’re not a woman, and I’m not gay, so it wouldn’t work.”
“Since we’re letting it all out,” quipped Mileah, “I might as well tell Wally that you’re a mighty kisser, too. Oh, Lord, you sure do know how to use that tongue. I came up for air twice, and you kept going for more. I mean, you are very gentle; but you are also insatiable.”
Norman looked puzzled. “You’re losing me, Mileah. What’s
insatiable
?”
Wally interrupted. “It means you can’t get enough.”
Norman snapped. “How come you answered that, Wally? You aren’t the one I kissed.”
“I wish!” swooned Wally. “How I’d love for you to let that tongue loose on me. Oh, I would absolutely die for that. You are the most gorgeous hunk I ever laid eyes on . . . Oops, sorry Norman. I got carried away. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“You didn’t embarrass me. I’m kind of flattered. I am just sorry I can’t grant your wish. I mean I have thought about it–ever since you told us about Tony kissing you. But, I cannot bring myself to do it–you know–kiss a guy. It’s so . . . so not straight.” Norman frowned slightly.
Mileah chuckled, “And, if you decided to kiss a guy? Would it be just any guy who puckered in your face? Or, would it be somebody special–somebody you had really wanted to kiss?”
“I don’t want to embarrass anybody, or give any false hopes,” replied Norman, “but, if I was going to kiss a guy, it would have to be Wally. He is the only guy I know who would be worthy of my lips.”
“Whee-oh!” exclaimed Mileah. “Did you hear that Wally? You’re at the top of his list. My, oh, my!”
Norman replied sharply, “Don’t make light of it. Wally is precious to me. If I could ever bring myself to love on a guy, it would have to be him.” Norman turned to Wally. “Don’t go around expecting that any time soon, Wally, old boy. There’s still a lot of women who need my body.”
Mileah snorted. “Oh my gracious Lord. Somebody go get a shovel.”
Wally smiled. His face was beginning to turn red. “Thanks, Norman. Don’t forget me.”
Mileah added, “Too bad Dorinda is off today. She would have lots to say about this. I mean lots.”
Norman adjusted his shirt and his package. “We need to get to work before Muncey comes in here.”
The three went to their desks and began to work. Once in a while, Mileah would pause and chuckle. Now and then, Norman would gaze out the window, as if in a trance. Then, he would adjust his package. From time to time, Wally would close his eyes and have sweet visions of both Tony and Norman. If he ever had to make a choice, it would be difficult.
Chapter 14
The last thing Wally wanted to do after work, that evening, was to go home and face the silence of his apartment. Before this latest episode with Tony, the quietness had not bothered him. He would often take extra pains preparing his dinner–yeah, dinner for one–or was it more like dinner for two with one serving of leftovers? It didn’t matter. Cooking something he liked or trying something new, at least three times a week, yielded a sense of well being. Of course, if Wally had decided to prepare supper, he would have to make a trip to Walmart or Food Lion. He always saw familiar people there. And, the employees? There were delightful ladies, young and old, and gorgeous guys, like they came straight off the cover of a catalog. They all seemed to take a special interest in enriching his shopping experience.
