Lily turned to a crowd of party goers and realized she just ruined the party. “I am so sorry everyone,” she said putting her hand over her mouth.
“Are you kidding girlfriend,” Lenny said waving it off.
John walked over. “Holy shit honey, this is the party of the year,” he said to a room full of agreement. “It had everything, good food, great music, racial tension, homophobia, confrontation, oh what a hero you are,” he finished giving her a big kiss as the room broke out into laughter.
Todd came back with the pictures and went to hand them to Martin but paused. “I should come too,” he said looking at Lily.
Lily hugged him. “It’s okay, we’ll go. You stay here and keep the party going, because when I get back I want a drink,” she said bringing another round of agreement. Todd nodded his head and gave Martin the pictures.
“You’re not going alone though,” Todd said.
All of a sudden Paul, Lenny and John were putting their coats on. “Oh we’ll go,” John said smiling like a treasure cat with ulterior motives.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re going trolling for cops?” he asked since they would not have been his first pick of escorts.
“Gay, straight, who cares,” Lenny said cheerfully matching his smile.
“Their men in uniform,” Paul said laughing.
Lily walked over to Nathan who was enjoying the banter from his new three friends. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” she said more than a little embarrassed.
“Oh no, don’t be,” Nathan said putting Martin’s beer down. “You were great.”
“Not the way you want to let the guy you like to know about your past,” Lily said while trying to play it off as minor as she could.
“Definitely a first.”
“I totally understand if you don’t want to go out on a date with me now that my baggage is out in the open, and there’s a lot of it,” she laughed. Hearing herself made her become a little saddened as she continued. “And the bags are open and the clothes are scattered all over the room and. . .”
“Never crossed my mind,” he said.
“What?” Lily asked looking up at him not sure if she heard him correctly.
Nathan offered her a smile and took her hand gently. “I am still very, very looking forward to our date Lily.” Bringing her hand up to his lips he gently kissed it. “It never crossed my mind,” he said and then smiled.
She smiled back as her eyes glossed over and she had to go before she started to cry. “Will you be here when I get back?” she asked walking backwards.
Nathan wanted to with all his heart but thought it would be a victory better celebrated with her family, he would just be a distraction and they deserved this. “Enjoy your night with your family,” he said. “We’ll enjoy our night on our date,” Nathan said and waved at her.
“Okay,” Lily said waving back. She turned around and met Martin at the Hall and took him by the arm.
“Ready?” Martin asked.
“Ready,” she replied confidently.
“Scared?” he asked again.
“Nope,” she said just as confident.
“My girl,” he said as they walked out to the elevator where their entourage of escorts were already waiting.
Nathan would excuse himself from the party and thank Todd for a wonderful and eventful evening. He would explain why and Todd thought it to be very amiable. He would then follow Lily and Martin to the Police Station and back again just in case anyone else was waiting for them. There was not. Later he would watch them from a building top across the street. Without her even knowing he was there he said good night to the most beautiful and bravest women he had ever met.
CHAPTER 12
ONE: Ambush of the Gentle and Harmonious
There had not been a customer in Sips for almost an hour and a half, which was the usual for a Wednesday night. Last night ended very late and today started very early. Lily and Martin both went home a little early tonight, a good will gesture that would be pointed out throughout the rest of the evening once Todd arrived home. This always caused an argument between him and Todd, but not so bad that it wasn’t worth Martin arguing over, especially tonight. Todd always thought about going home all the time when he was stuck in this predicament. But he could never bring himself to do it. He wanted to leave a while ago, even told himself if no one came within twenty minutes, he was going to leave early. That was forty five minutes ago.
So Todd stayed open right until the sign said he would. He just wished a last minute customer would come in for a dessert order or bored and looking for chit chat. Usually he was left alone to wait out the clock and then he would go home and be asked “how the evening went” and he would say “no one came in” and then he would here the code for “I told you so” in the form of “Should have left early”.
God he hated that.
He wiped off the counter that was already showroom ready and threw the table cloth through the order window. He quickly glanced at the till then decided the thirteen dollars and change he made after Martin went home four hours ago was not enough to warrant a detour to the bank. He looked at the clock again.
“Are you kidding?” he asked wondering if the clock had actually slowed down to keep him a prisoner.
He turned off the open sign in defiance of the remaining thirty four seconds before actual closing time. Then turned it back on imagining Mr. Clarke coming up to the door and demanding a coffee, or Florida wrapping at the glass demanding to see what sweets he had left because her sister, Hazel, came for a “Pop in” and we all know Ms. Johnson hates the “Pop Ins”, for this very reason. He decided to wait just a few moments more, but nothing.
Now it was two minutes past close and he sighed. Continuing to turn off the rest of the lights in the store he got to the door and looked back. The place was immaculate. It had been for a while now, but it still made him smile. He liked when Martin left early and he opened the following day and the store was spotless. With all that down time he and Lily usually just sat and drank coffee and pretended to look busy when Martin walked through the door. Sometimes they would pick up a broom or rags and pretend to be swamped just so Martin would feel bad and not yell at them as much. Then Todd could complain and bitch to his heart’s content. Martin let him bitch anyways and it was why Todd loved him so.
He was finally on the other side of the door and waiting to hear the last chime of the alarm system to go off. With the last chime going off he was free. The dull Wednesday night shift was over. Sure it was a long grueling last hour and a half, notably because he lost all of the games he challenged people on his phone. But hell, he could wash defeat down with a gin and tonic easy. Or hopefully Martin wanted to score bonus points and the first batch of Margaritas would be ready. They had plenty of mix left over from last nights “Dinner”.
He began his fifty block walk that was really only twelve. He hated the walk home and tonight was worse because he was extremely sluggish. He loved the area and everything about it. The restaurants and bars, all the quirky inhabitants, he just hated walking home. He supposed it was better going home then heading to work. But tonight he still did not want to walk. He humored the idea of calling a cab but that would eat up all the profit from the last four hours.
He walked past the big alley between the boutique and the thrift shop. Suddenly he heard a garbage can topple from inside the alley and it made him jump and scream. He could not remember if it was in that order. Frozen at the entrance of the alley he stared down the dark outdoor hall and waited for his eyes to adjust. “Hello?” he almost squeaked. He stood silent. If anyone was around at this moment and didn’t know he was gay, they knew now. He wished he could take it back and butch it up a bit. “Hello?” he called out a little more manly this time.
The entire street was quiet, except for some white noise off in the distance. Another bang exploded and again he jumped. Standing still for a minute he actually contemplated stepping into the alley then chuckled. “Oka
y, I yell at stupid people like this in the movies.” As he began to turn around he heard a long and dragged out meow. He stood there silent with a smile on his face. “Holy shit, as fucking if,” he said dramatically putting his hand over his heart and taking a deep breath. Todd couldn’t believe he let his imagination get away from him, nine o’clock on a Wednesday night. Calming down he heard footsteps coming toward him. For some reason he believed it was Martin come to meet him. Todd turned around to tell him the funny story of the cat in the alley who almost gave him a heart attack. Except when he turned around it was not Martin.
“Lights out Faggot,” the voice said just before it went dark.
TWO: Ingredients for a Hate Crime
Todd felt a sharp tingling feeling on the side of his face. And he wasn’t a hundred percent sure but he believed he was on the ground. It was all a daze and he could not get his bearings at all. Now he was moving abruptly but did not know if he was doing it or if he was being moved. They were short jerky motions so he guessed he was being moved. Why? Todd wondered.
He stopped. Todd could hear talking, but the only word he could make out was “Further”. He knew he was on the move once more because the jerking motion started again. Todd just could not for the life of him, figure out why he was being moved. Was Martin going to the market and he wanted to nap a little bit? But why would Martin move me? Todd thought since he was perfectly comfortable…
Something was not right, where was he?
“Get him up,” the voice demanded.
Todd recognized the voice.
Two men each took one of Todd’s arms and hauled him up. Todd protested in the way of dazed grunting. He could tell he was standing and that someone or ones, were helping him. Suddenly Todd felt his cheeks being slapped repeatedly.
“Wake up you fucking homo,” the slapper with the recognizable voice said.
The voice stunk of cheap rye and cigarettes.
The slapping on the cheek was actually working because Todd was coming around. His train of thought was becoming clearer since he realized he wasn’t at home going for a nap while Martin went to the market.
The cat scared him. Now he remembered, the cat scared him and he turned around and this man hit him.
That voice, so familiar, Todd thought. Finally his vision was becoming blurry which was an improvement. Or was it? A sharp pain started to cover his face.
Who hit him?
He started to go over the scenario. The cat scared him and he turned and got punched in the face. He was now pretty sure the culprit was the same person smacking his face and unloading the cruel punishment of his breath. Now the blur was fading and he was coming around. Now he knew exactly who it was.
“Rick,” Todd was able to sputter. He also noticed they had taken him deep into the alley. He tried to talk again. “Rick, I – I …”
Rick looked at his two friends, Kevin and Derek. Rick smiled then quickly turned back and punched Todd in the stomach. His two friends had to take all of Todd’s weight because his legs gave out. He wanted to curl up into a ball and hug his pain but they would not allow him to. He coughed and chocked while trying to respond, but nothing resembling actual words came out.
“You know what Homo?” Rick asked. But Todd could not respond which seemed to suite Rick just fine. He walked over to Todd who was still fighting to go into a more fetal position. Grabbing Todd by his hair he reefed it back and forced Todd to look up at him. Todd stared up with his mouth wide open coughing in discomfort and pain. Rick smiled. “You know what really pisses me off Toddy?”
Todd tried to answer. But before anything could even make a sound that resembled a word Rick bent down and punched him in the stomach again. The muffled thud of it caused him to go weightless, again.
His two friends who obviously shared in having a drink or twelve let him drop to the ground. They laughed as one stepped back with his right leg and brought it back forcibly into the small of Todd’s back.
Todd shot out of the fetal position and arched his back in pain on the dirty alley floor. The pain took over everything. Closing his eyes he had no choice but to surrender to it. He could only hear them laughing above him. He wanted to yell for help or beg them to stop.
“I say we castrate him,” Kevin suggested. Rick bent down and grabbed Todd by the hair again and yanked his head up as far as he could.
“What do you say Todd, buddy, should we castrate you?” Rick smiled waiting for an answer. “At least it would stop him from shoving his cock up other men’s asses.”
Todd coughed but mustered enough air to reply. “Then who will throw it in yours?” If anything he thought he would go out with a cool one liner in an act of defiance. If he survived, and learnt to talk again, he would tell Martin that he got one last good one in before it was done.
The two accomplices laughed as Rick smiled and shook his head. “The same smart ass fag to the end. Kind of like last night,” he explained to his friends before bending down to Todd’s ear. “Who’s the bitch now you fuck?” Todd went to answer him but Rick punched him across the face before he could. “It was fucking rhetorical,” he said shaking the sting from his hand.
“You really are a little bitch,” Todd said as he spit the blood from his mouth.
Suddenly Rick violently straddled him. Grabbing Todd’s head he slammed it into the ground as hard as he could. Todd felt the gravel and rugged cement bury into his face. The impact made a low slapping sound that Todd wished knocked him out. Instead it just made everything start to go blurry again.
Rick jumped to his feet and raised his arms in victory as his friends cheered him on.
Derek was done being on the sideline and searched the area for something long and heavy. Seeing it he picked the pipe up. Walking back he saw Rick and Kevin laughing, they weren’t paying attention to Todd who was trying to crawl back to the street. “Look out, the Queer is making a run for it,” he laughed getting a better grip. Derek stood beside Todd who was slowly crawling away. “Fore,” he yelled bringing the pipe down and catching him in his side.
Todd curled up again while letting out an agonizing low screech. His eyes widened as tears slid down his cheeks and he gasped for air.
“Fucking Nancy’s crying,” Kevin said holding out his hand. Derek obliged and passed him the pipe. “I’ll give you something to cry about fag-boy.”
Todd could see the pipe coming down over his head and held up his arm. It took some of the impact but still caught the top of his forehead. The force split him open and blood started to pour out.
Still they laughed.
“My turn,” Rick said grabbing the pipe from Kevin’s hand. He looked at Todd holding up his hand trying to signify he was giving up. “Oh were not even close to being done boy.” He looked at the other two. “Maybe he’s one of those Piñata things and if we hit him hard enough, some candy will come out.” They laughed in response. “What’d ya say boys, keep hitting till something good comes out?”
Kevin looked at him approvingly. “Oh were gonna commit a hate crime tonight brother.”
Rick nodded teeing up his shot. “Yes we are.”
Todd’s arm weighed a hundred pounds now and he could hardly keep it up. He could hardly see through the blood now running down his face. He started to sob, knowing this was not just a beat down. Todd knew he was going to die tonight. “Please, I’m sorry,” he said beginning to cry. “I’m so sorry, please…”
“Be a man you fucking fairy,” Rick responded. He kicked Todd’s hand away and stood above him, teeing up his head. Then he yelled. “Fore.” He swung wildly.
Rick was drunk and his eye hand coordination was off but he was still able to catch Todd square in the head. Todd’s face snapped to the right as blood sprayed from his mouth, they sprayed from his recent cuts and now, his brand new one. His jaw crumbled as flesh held only shattered bone. His eyes were still closed but he opened his mouth and a waterfall of blood cascaded over his lip.
His two friends stood there silent. Rick
held his hand to his mouth in disbelief. Then he started to jump from foot to foot as he revealed a giant smile. Turning to his friends he pointed at what they were already looking at. “Holy shit look at that – Woo Hoo baby,” he cheered himself on.
Kevin and Derek both began to cheer until Derek noticed he had Todd’s blood all over him. “Fuck asshole, I got queer blood all over me.”
“You’ll turn gay now,” Kevin sympathized sarcastically.
“Fuck you,” he said trying to wipe it off.
“Are you getting any urges to suck another man off?” Kevin asked.
“Kevin, bend over and see if Derek sticks it up your ass,” Rick said. Rick and Kevin both started laughing while Derek kept wiping the blood off.
Todd propped up on one arm and listened to them. He could no longer see and even though the pain seemed to be gone he was sure his other arm was broken. He was also sure his head suffered severe trauma but his whole body just seemed to go numb. He wanted to stay awake because he knew when he closed his eyes he would never open them again. Realizing this he became sad. Who would keep the coffee shop clean? Not clean, Immaculate, he thought. Who would employ his Lily if the coffee shop were to close? Poor Lily, I really hope she doesn’t blame herself. But he knew she would. Her Ex-boyfriend killed him, of course she will. He just hoped Martin would protect her from the other people who would blame her. “Martin,” he whispered. At least he thought he did. What will happen to his beloved, he wondered? He did not want to die and it made him even sadder. If he could just let him know that he loved him. It was getting harder for him to keep propped up. Then Todd heard it, he heard it as he began to drift away. Getting tired he wanted to lay down. Then Todd heard it again, it was a growl like a tiger. Odd, for a tiger to be in the alley this late at night, he thought. And then, it went dark.
THREE: A Hankering for Tea
Nathan walked into the kitchen and yawned. He had a long night ahead of him. He hated paperwork, not because he found it hard he just thought it ate up a lot of valuable time. Time he could use to read, visit his family or visit Lily. Of course he would rather be with Lily. “Just get it done,” he chastised himself.
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