On
the other hand, he was spending more and more time talking and
hanging out with Alan. At first, Alan had just come over on occasion
to check up on Keith, see how he was handling things and find
out if any of the doctors had found anything useful about his
situation. During the same time frame that Keith started changing
his appearance, though, they started talking more, and about different
things as well. They chatted about stuff in general: sports, jobs,
who got voted off the island, art, and so on. It was during one
of those many chats that Keith found out Alan was gay. It didn’t
bother him at all but he did think later that there had been a
time in his life, even recently, when it would have.
One day, while he was visiting, Alan asked Keith if he’d
like to go to a museum exhibition that Wednesday night. Alan didn’t
say so but Keith knew Alan meant it as a date. Keith said, “Sure,
that’d be great.” The only surprise he felt was that
he meant it.
The two men went downtown to the university campus and saw the
exhibit of modern art. Keith rode in Alan’s car. Afterwards
they strolled along the lakeshore before returning home. Instead
of splitting up, Alan invited Keith over to his place for a while
and Keith accepted. It was several hours later before Keith did
return home to sleep. He fell asleep happy and contented. Keith
woke the next morning feeling the same way. That day from he work
he called Alan and the two of them made plans to do dinner out
Friday, tomorrow night. After hanging up the phone, Keith felt
great.
Work, meanwhile, wasn’t going so well. The boss called Keith
in for a private meeting that very same Friday. The boss told
him that he didn’t think Keith and the bank were a good
fit anymore. The bank managers needed to present a certain air
of authority and class that Keith just didn’t have anymore.
Specifically, the boss told him that he didn’t like the
rolled-up sleeves, he didn’t like the jeans, he didn’t
like the beard, and he sure as hell didn’t like that long-ass,
hippie ponytail he’d grown. So Keith took his severance
pay and left the bank. He didn’t bother packing his stuff
up in a cardboard box. He just left it all at his desk and walked
out the door. It was pretty much just assorted trophies and knick-knacks.
None of it meant anything to him, now.
That night Keith went to dinner with Alan at a local Italian restaurant.
On the way there, Keith told Alan about being fired and Alan consoled
him, telling Keith he’d be able to find another job quickly.
Keith told him it was no big thing, he hadn’t liked working
there in a while. As they arrived and got out of the car, Alan
told a joke to lighten Keith up. Keith laughed and unselfconsciously
took Alan’s hand as they crossed the parking lot. Keith
heard a noise and looked up. Two young men were leaving the restaurant,
laughing, looking in Keith’s direction. He wasn’t
certain but he thought they were looking at him. He looked away
quickly and removed his hand from Alan as they entered the restaurant.
During the dinner, Keith was very quiet. Alan sensed it, tried
to draw him out, but eventually fell silent as well. The food
was good but Keith ate little of it. Alan asked him what was wrong
but Keith told him he felt fine. On the way back, the two didn’t
talk at all.
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