I awoke the next morning feeling energized but kind of bummed. How do you ask someone you met only a couple days ago, well, I can't exactly go up to him and ask 'Are you...gay?'. I'm, more shy, than anything. I put that to the back of my head for the time being and got the day started.


With the morning comedy routine out of the way, but in reverse this time, I went to the kitchen to get breakfast started. I'm not much of a cook myself, but I'm really digging this. Nigel finally gets to the kitchen looking a little too relaxed, but goes to the fridge for some juice while commenting on my cooking. I ask him if I'm gonna be needed at the shop this morning because I'd like to go to the store and re-stock the cupboards. I let him know that I wanted to do this, as I could eat him out of house and home if allowed. He gave in and gave me directions to the store, along with a list of things I could pick up since I was there.

We went our respective directions after cleaning up. Nige went to his garage and I went to the store. The store was nice. It has a real small town feel to it, go figure. After a while of picking things up and looking at knick-knacks, I check out and head back to the house to re-stock. After completing that task, I go outside and wander around the property, not being nosey but curious. I take a look in the barn, I see the usual barn type stuff, old tools and such, but tucked in the corner, covered up, was a sixties era corvette. Thought I died and went to hotrod heaven. I may have to inquire on how this car sits all by it's lonesome, just aching to be driven.

Back in the house, I decide to make lunch, something I could take to Nigel, and in the meantime, check on my parts. After sealing up the lunch, I head to JPT. He was surprised on the lunch as he wasn't even thinking of it yet, so I saved him a trip to the local eatery. We eat quietly and I ponder my thoughts on what is currently happening. I wonder if my car is ever gonna run again, if my life at home isn't what I want anymore, and is there a snowballs chance in hades that Nigel is what I think/hope he is.

We head into the shop area to find not alot going on in there, so I ask if there is anything I can do there to help out, the only thing he can think of, is some clean up. I commence to pushing a broom around and picking up things while he adjourns to his office.

After a couple hours of doing that, Nige comes in back saying we're closing for the day and to finish what I was doing. I was thinking 'WTF?' close early?

"Here's what we're gonna do,” he stated, “Since there's nothing going on here, I'm gonna show ya around town.”

“Cool, a road trip,” I exclaimed. We went back to the house for a quick clean up and change of clothes, and then, we were gone again.

It seems there really is life out in the sticks. We passed a couple of fast food joints and a couple of pubs too. You had to look for ‘em though. We ended up at a mom and pop Mexican joint. After our orders were placed, we got a couple Coronas from the bar and went back to the table where the conversation started getting good. We we're talking shop and about cars in general, when I ask him if he ever got into muscle cars and the like. He was more into the European scene, but his dad liked the early muscle cars though. Nigel went on to tell of the cars his father had, one being a certain 1967 Corvette with a rare aluminum-headed 427 and a 4 speed.

“What became of it,” I asked.

"It sits covered up in the barn. I'm almost afraid to drive it. There's so much power there that and my dad would come back from the grave and kill me if I wrecked that car.”

I start to think that maybe there is a story behind that car.

We made small talk for a couple hours then we took off again. Where we were going next I wasn't sure, but, it was nice, for a change, to be out with a friend, doing…whatever. What came up next was a surprise. We pulled into an abandoned drive in theater where we parked and then walked over to a set of old swings still there. Sitting on those swings reminded me of the old days and of old memories. Memories of school, recess, after-school study sessions that consisted more of play and less of study as the years went on.

When I snapped out of momentary trip to the past, I noticed that Nige was quiet too, reflective almost.

I broke the silence. “What's on your mind?”

He remained quiet for a few more minutes pondering, and then, started talking softly.

"It's too hard. My life seems like…there’s so much shit and I'm not seeing an end to it." I sat there dumbfounded as he continued.

"I'm gonna lay it out, right here, right now. I've been in a hole, for a long time, until I picked you up. You had this look about you, like, nothing can stop you."

I sat on the swing, motionless, staring at the ground.

"I don't know what you think of me, but...I like...you."

That statement woke me up and I had to respond to it.

"I have the same feelings for you, past, present and possibly, the future. Don't be scared, but I saw you early in the morning, checking in on me."

It was his turn to stare off in the distance as I spoke.

I continued "And I think I liked it and I sure wasn't going to boot you from the room. My life hasn't been much better, I live alone in a small apartment, have a job I like, but the negatives outweigh the positives."

Our conversation continued well into the night, right on those swings. We talked about everything, our good and bad sides, likes, dislikes. Family always seems like the hard part when you’re not "normal”. I was out to a select few at work and a small part of my family. Nige’s situation seems more unthinkable. Being in the area he is, in the country, people just expect one thing, that you’re "normal". He always felt like the odd man out. Girls did nothing for him, and the locker room had it's issues when he was still in school. So he spent a lot of time at JPT working with his dad and developed his passion for all things on wheels. After graduating from high school, he went full time with his dad until the old man passed away, about 3 years ago. That’s when he took over the business completely. From then on he remained alone.  Yeah, he has friends but nobody close.

"I've been looking for a way out, one way or another,” I said, “The only look I seem to have is distress, pained. That was the reason for this trip, I needed to get away from everything for a while and think about my future."

I had to think a bit, but went on

"The reason I looked as I did, when you got out of the tow truck, my brain went dumb, like I was in a trance. I've never felt this before, but I like it and was hoping it could continue."

It was now time for both of us to think about what was said and weigh things out.

After what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, we got up and walked to the truck, hopped in and then started our way to his house, staying silent for the first several minutes. I had to say something though.

"Are you mad with me?”

Without taking his eyes off the road he replied, "Not now, we'll talk when we get to the house."

Thinking I was seriously screwed, I withdrew, and didn't think of anything. Still in a daze when we got to the house, Nigel got out, walked around and comes to my door, opening it with a smile. He holds his hand out for me to take. I look at him, and he smiles to me like never before, so I take his hand and hop out of the truck. He leads me to the barn, when he turns the lights on exposing most all I seen earlier in the day. We walk, still hand in hand, to his dads Corvette. He pulls the cover off and walks me to the driver’s side, instructing me to get in. I sit down and he shuts the door. I stare curiously as he walks to the passenger side and hops in and closes the door.

“This car means everything to me. It was my dads, now I want to share it,” he says softly. 

We stared into each others eyes for eternity until he said, "Fire it up!"

I did and it roared to life. It was a sound like I never heard or felt before.

With the barn door already open, Nige says, "Let’s go for a ride. It's been ages and I want to remember this day forever."

As I slip it in gear, I feel like I have the power of the world under my foot, so, I use it, easing the car from the barn to the road.

He says to ‘stand on it’ so I happily oblige and was greeted with the roar of the engine and a cloud of tire smoke and with a mighty 'hi-o-silver, away' we headed down the road.

Nige asks me to head to the garage, and like a faithful puppy, I comply. When we get there, I shut the car down and we go inside. He directs me to a spot I haven't seen yet. Nigel is looking at me and a covered object on some kind of stand. He pulls the cover off in a grand manner, exposing an engine which looks familiar. I give him an odd look.

"I've had this for a while and had it built with performance in mind but I didn't have anything to put it in. I think I do now," he says with a wide smile. 

What I was staring at was, basically, a BMW race engine that would be perfect for my car. I was dumbfounded again.

"Why me? Why my car?" I couldn’t think of anything else to ask.

Nigel replies, "Why you is because I like you. And I think you’re something special. As for why your car, why not? It's the perfect car for it."

Hearing this, I start tearing up and try to look for something to sit on before I fall down. Nige has a concerned look on his face when he comes up to me.

“Are you alright,” he asks with concern in his voice, “I didn't mean to offend you".

As I stare into his eyes, I know this is it.

"In no way did you offend me. I like you, not for your house, not for your business, not for your father’s Corvette, but for you". I'm tear up even more as I go on, "No, I don't think I like you, I lo...I love...you"

I began to cry uncontrollably at that point. Nigel fell to his knees and wrapped me in a tight hug.

"I love you too," he whispered. I hug him just as tightly, still crying.

Time seemed to stand still as we stayed in that position for a long time, hugging and softly telling each other how much we cared for the other. Dawn approached as daylight peeked through the windows of the door. Nige stood up, and, taking my hand, we head into his office. He digs a sign out that read, 'Sorry for The Inconvenience, Closed for The Day". He puts that on the inside of the front door and he locks up.

With Nige driving, we go home. I ask about his employee, but, he said he was part time and drove the tow truck full time and he could handle anything that might come up.

I was on air all the way back to Nige’s place. We parked the car inside, carefully putting the cover back on it. Once in the house, we went to the couch, turned the TV on and relaxed from a long and stressful, yet, enjoyable evening. With a movie channel on, mainly for noise, we sat, enjoying each others company.

We exchange glances every so often until I finally doze off. I wake up, once, and I'm lying on the couch with my head on Nigel’s lap and he’s gently stroking my hair.

I say a silent prayer, “Thanks big guy, I'll never doubt you again”. With that, I fall back asleep.

I awake again, some time later, still on the couch, to find Nigel missing. Thinking this may be a dream, I get up and head to the kitchen where I find him cooking us up some lunch. Seeing me, he puts his stirring spoon down, comes up to me and gives me a nice soft hug.

Leaning into me, he whispers, "I meant it too. I really do love you."

I wanted to stay there forever, but other things were calling, like nature. After visiting the used beer department, I went back to the kitchen, seeing he got it all in order, even a candle, the romantic bastard. We grazed on his concoction, and then took a slow walk around the property.

I'm still amazed on how quiet it is out here, and that clean smell that just charges my batteries up. He asked me about city life.

“It's always go-go-go, too much hustle, noise, stupid people, yeah, you have those everywhere, but in the city, there more concentrated."

Nige laughs as I continue, “I've really wanted to get out of there for a long time and go someplace where I can relax."

Nigel circles me and starts off saying "I've been to the big cities before, nothing I really want there. I always loved it here, the clean air, able to see the stars at night. You can hear the train from 10 miles away. This is living. I would love it if you considered living here. I know you love your job, but, maybe we can work on your hands-on mechanical abilities, if you stay. If it sounds like something you would like, we can talk about it."

So talk, we did. Into the evening, about all the details, my stuff at home, my job, my car, that is still in a million pieces. How would life be here with us? Where would I work? What would I tell my family and friends? I would be moving about 800 miles away from everything I ever known. Apprehension set in, until I saw those eyes of his.

My things could go anywhere in the house, or in the barn. As for the job, Nige offers me a position at JPT as business is doing good there. My car, we will get the engine out and get the new one he wanted to put in, and install it. In the meantime, I could continue to use the Civic to handle my affairs back home and start the move. As for my friends and family, I'll tell them I found a position that I really wanted and it would be a fresh start for me in a new area. Those close enough to me will get the more personal version, I found someone I can love, and can love me back.

With all the particulars gone over, we watch a movie, a drama this time. I haven’t heard of The Shawshank Redemption but I really got into it, amazed at what one has to take to adapt in a harsh environment, and then, overcome it.

After a power yawn from Nigel, it's time for bed. We go upstairs and have one last hug until morning. Separating was difficult, but after a few minutes, we go to our respective rooms.

I’ll do this. I can't lose everything because I wanted it all now. There will be all the time in the world for that when I get settled here.

I get ready for bed and then climb inside, feeling like I can take on the world, and win. Thinking of the last day and a half, the personal battles won, my head hit the pillow with one thought. I have a boyfriend.



To Be Continued....................


*** Well folks, if you've stuck with this story so far, stick around a little while longer. Like I said, this is my first attempt at writing, so bear with me.

For those who would like to visit my world, check out Deweywriter.com, Draketales.org, The Glass Onion.org, also, The Scribbler’s Pad.

For my demented family at Dewey’s and Drake’s message boards, this hug's for you!

-Lugnutz