The Professionals Circuit Archive - On Vacation	On Vacation

 

by Kathy Windrain 

 
 "That's a bloody disgrace, that is," Ray opined.

 Reluctantly, Bodie pulled himself up off the beach towel on which he'd
been resting, and followed his partner's gaze down the curving beach. They
were already situated well apart from the other unfortunate visitors to
Horseshoe Bay who'd picked this cool, dreary day to visit Bermuda's famous
pink sands.

 Even further down from the crowd, near the tall, imposing rock formations
that marked the end of the main beach, stood two lovers. Young lovers, he
noted. As Bodie watched, the boy ran his hands down the back of his
girlfriend, while enthusiastically kissing her. Bodie didn't get it. "So
what?"

 "So what? What do you think would happen if you and I did that?"

 Bodie smiled to himself. "Kiss? We have, Ray. And survived to tell about
it. After twenty-five or so years, there isn't much we haven't done with
each other."

 "That's not the point, and you know it."

 "Yeh, yeh." Bodie didn't feel like re-living this argument today. In
fact, he didn't feel much like doing anything but lying there on his
yellow towel, comfortably wrapped up in a tracksuit, with another, smaller
towel from stateroom's bathroom around his shoulders. He didn't mind the
lack of sun at all. Ray, he knew, was completely out of sorts with the
weather. Probably the heavy layer of clouds and the damp chill was to
thank for the upcoming rant against the rampant homophobia Ray saw -- and
commented on -- everywhere in society.

 "Doesn't it bother you?"

 "What?"

 "That!" Ray spat out, vehemently gesturing down the beach.

 "No, Ray," Bodie said. "It does not. I have no problem with snogging. I
encourage it, as a matter of fact. Live and let live, that's my motto."

 "It's not the world's motto. Not for our kind, that's for sure. We can't
do anything in public. It is such a double standard. How long have we been
together, and how long did we have to wait until our benevolent Government
allowed us to form a 'civil union'? Not even a marriage. Not even
recognized by the Church. "

 "I know that." Bodie sat up again. "What do you want me to do about it,
Ray? You're the social activist in this partnership. The last time I
checked, I can't vote here, and regrettably, I missed the last gay pride
parade they had in Hamilton. So that's not much I can do."

 "Yes, there is! We could do exactly what those two are doing! We could
stand up, right here, right now, and -- "

 "No, we couldn't," Bodie cut in, appalled. "I would never -- "

 "No, you wouldn't," Ray agreed. "You're -- "

 "Repressed, I know." Bodie had heard this complaint before as well.

 "Well, something like that. You're one of the most private persons I've
ever known."

 "I like it that way. If I wanted the whole world to be our bedroom, I'd
not hesitate to act like that with you out here. I don't, though. I simply
don't believe sex is a spectator sport. I believe it's between one person
and another, them and them alone. Private."

 Ray sighed, softly. "I know. And I know what you mean, how you feel."

 "By now, after all these years, you should." Bodie had always felt this
way.

 Ray was quiet for a few minutes and Bodie lowered himself back down,
listening to the surf as the turquoise water broke against the wet sand.
He could feel the ocean's spray -- either that, or it was drizzling again.

 "Oy," Bodie said suddenly.

 "Yeh?"

 "Is it raining again?"

 "Yes. Of course. All this money, all this distance, our one chance to
come here, and we get to see Bermuda in the rain."

 "It's probably better this way," Bodie responded. "Better than the sun
melting us. Especially as I've been ill."

 "I wanted sun. I wanted sun for that very reason, to bake out that chest
congestion you've had since November!"

 That was an exaggeration. "More like January. And it wasn't merely for me
we came here. You wanted to rent those little motor scooters and tear
around the roads. And you needed a country that still drives on the left.
'First and foremost, Bermudians drive on the left'." Bodie quoted the
handout they'd received when leaving the ship.

 Ray ignored the entire driving issue. "Well, it's May now. About time for
you to feel better."

 Bodie couldn't agree more but there didn't seem to be much he could do
about it. Sometimes he felt he'd never get better. And then when he
thought about how fit and healthy he'd been as a young man, and how little
he'd appreciated it at the time...it was difficult.

 "Getting old."

 "So'm I."

 "Yeh. Both of us. Old men."

 Ray straightened a bit. "At least we're old men together."

 "Indeed." That was only the truth and was the very bedrock of Bodie's
existence.

 The rain fell a bit harder, and back towards the concession stand and the
washrooms, Bodie heard the chatter of the others on the beach as they
packed up their things. Almost certainly regretting the ten dollars per
beach chair many of them had paid not two hours before. Ray had vetoed the
expenditure for them.

 "We better be going, Bodie," Ray stated, standing up. "This is the last
thing you need, to be out here in the rain."

 That was quite true. "Okay," Bodie agreed, gradually getting to his feet
as well and looking around him. All he could see of the mass of departing
humankind was their backs as they waddled towards the paving and the hilly
road. "No one is looking down here now, however."

 "You thinking of making a stand?"

 "No, you're thinking of making a stand. Me, I'm thinking of kissing you."

 "Everyone could see," Ray pointed out. "Goes against your principles."

 "I keep reminding you, I have no principles," Bodie rebutted. "All I care
about is you. Not gay rights. Not world peace, global warming, or humpback
whales. Not preventing cruelty to animals, children, and assorted other
defenceless species. Not Labour's chances in the election. Nothing but
you."

 Ray smiled, widely. "You voted Labour once!"

 "Never," Bodie argued. "I voted for Blair. It mattered not one whit what
party he represented."

 "Well, at least you voted -- "

 "Once every two decades, that's my rule."

 "I can't believe you -- "

 "Ray," Bodie interrupted. "It's raining. You're cold. I'm hungry. Let's
go back to the ship."

 Ray was being very perverse today. As he packed up their small holdall,
he complained. "And do what? There's only so much shopping and gambling --
"

 " -- and drinking -- "

 "And drinking, one can do. I'm bored with that ship. And it's so blasted
dear. Three pounds for a beer!"

 "We did go for a bigger stateroom, one with a balcony," Bodie reminded
his partner. "What do you say to an early afternoon exploration of the
bed? I'll even let you leave the curtains open."

 "Wow," Ray said, sardonically. "What a sacrifice."

 "For you, the sky's the limit," Bodie responded, grandly. "How about it?"

 Ray was quiet for a moment, then spoke, slowly. "It sounds ideal. You
need your social conscience raised, and how better to do it than with a
bit of education from me?"

 "Ah, yes." Bodie understood his partner perfectly. "But will you be
informing me, educating me, or re-educating me?"

 "Walls have ears," Ray admitted, ruefully. "Probably just have to stop at
the education level."

 "After lunch."

 "Yes, after lunch. You'll need your strength."

 "What strength? Anyway, education usually involved your strategic use of
handcuffs and leather, with me on my knees."

 "Not leather. That's the re-education level. As for the cuffs, we have to
go through Customs, remember? I couldn't bring anything from our bag of
tricks, but I can be quite inventive with ties and belts. You'll not
notice a significant difference."

 "Not my red tie!" Bodie said. "It's silk, and I don't want anything
untoward happening to it if we get a bit energetic."

 Ray rolled his eyes. "Okay, not your red tie. I can work without it. I'm
still going to -- "

 "Tie me up and have your way with me. I know. I know you, Ray, and I know
when I'm going to be fucked, and fucked hard. Tied up and unable to do a
thing about it. I know."

 Ray paused for a moment. "It's all right, isn't it?"

 "Whatever you want." Bodie was utterly sincere. He had no problems with
the fact; however, he was definitely the bottom man in their relationship.
Moreover, he knew that as frustrated as Ray was with how their expensive
vacation was going, he was in line for an interesting afternoon.

 It didn't matter. Whatever made Ray happy invariably pleased Bodie
equally if not more. He was, as he routinely acknowledged to himself, a
man deeply and permanently in love.

 "I love -- "

 Ray spoke over him. "Me, too."

 The two men spent a moment, in the rain, with the surf beating ever
stronger as the tide came in, on a rapidly de-populating beach. Then,
hurriedly, Bodie leaned over and kissed Ray on the mouth. Just a brush of
lips and he pulled back.

 "Let's go, Ray."

 "Yes. Let's."

 In deference to Bodie's comprised breathing, they made their way slowly
through the rain-splattered sand to start the steep walk back up to the
bus.

 Ray had his hand under Bodie's arm, to steady him on the shifting ground.
Bodie had his hand on Ray's shoulder, tightly holding on to his partner.

 -- THE END --

 *May 2008*

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