Chocolate
by: Staley Cole Smith
© 2019 by the Author
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
scsmith@tickiestories.us
Chapter 6
Harlem
Morning arrived with a vengeance and Calvin was completing his first week working for Bank of America. Day after day he would get off the train at Penn and walk through the plaza by himself to get to work.
Logan called him every day; once to congratulate him on his new job, and suggested getting together for lunch; but that never happened. The other times were just to talk like co-workers, lacking a personal touch.
Calvin, was devoted to his instincts, and chalked it up to poor timing and their work schedules. He was a bit concerned that Logan didn’t mention getting together. This is where his instincts kicked in. On his last day at work, just before the lunch hour he received a text from Logan.
“Horrible week of pressure, can you do lunch at 1:00?” Logan wrote.
At the time, Calvin was helping a bank customer discussing a mortgage loan, so he had to ignore it.
It was 1:30 pm when Calvin finally read the text and replied.
“I just read your text.”
“It’s too late to go now, huh?” Logan wrote.
“Yup, too late,” Calvin replied and went back to work.
At quitting time, Logan was waiting for Calvin outside, next to the door of the bank, leaning against the building.
Calvin spotted him, and although he had troubled feelings, he hid them well and decided to play this ridiculous game.
“Hey man, what are you doin here, don’t you work until 5:00pm?” Calvin asked.
“I left early, I had to see you.”
“It’s good seeing you too.” Calvin said being friendly but not terribly excited.
“You’re pissed, aren’t you?” Logan said.
“Me pissed – for what?” Cal replied.
“Look man, I’m so good at reading people it’s scary, something is not right, but let me explain.
All week we have had auditors and the IRS working in the office with a fine tooth comb. They have been going over everything. I mean everything. If something was written on paper, they had to see it. Not even the cobwebs were safe from scrutiny. I couldn’t get away for lunch and had no free time, that’s why I haven’t been around. I was going to explain at lunch today, because I could finally get away; but you couldn’t make it.”
“You don’t have to explain your week.” Said Cal.
“Apparently I do,” Logan commented.”
“No, apparently you don’t. How did the audit go? We bankers tend to be a bit nosey,” Calvin said changing the subject.
“Good, everything is in decent shape,” Logan answered.
“Cool.”
“It’s more than cool, the pressure is off and I can be myself again.” Said Logan.
“It works for me,” said Calvin and started to walk away.
“Wait – cried out Logan, where are you going?”
“125th street” replied Cal.
“Wait, can I come?” asked Logan sounding hurt.
“To Harlem? – You want to go to Harlem?
“I will if I have too.”
There were two young women just getting up from a bench on the concourse, so Calvin stopped walking and plunked himself down. Logan immediately was beside him.
“Hello stranger, said Logan. I work here at Penn Plaza and my boyfriend is missing. He’s a tall good looking black guy, with a mustache and short cropped beard. He has a sparkling personality, sexy as hell with a body to match. You wouldn’t by chance happen to have seen him?”
“You’re fuckin nuts. Did you say your boyfriend?” said Calvin trying to keep a straight face and loving every minute of Logan suffering to make amends.
“Yeah, I did, but it’s not easy convincing him of that.”
“Humm, you say he’s black, and then you should know how blacks are when it comes to boyfriends.”
“How’s that.
“Tell ‘em man, you gotta tell him. Do something simple like bring him a flower; a dumb flower can sometimes work wonders. Other times it takes a bottle of gin,” said Cal bursting out in laughter, OMG this is too funny, you don’t know squat about people.”
“He’s a guy, what would flowers accomplish?” Asked Logan being serious.
“If you don’t know the magic, than I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
“Stay right here – don’t leave, I have to find a florist.”
“Oh, stop it.” Calvin said “I’m playing with you, I know you had a full week; it’s just fun listening to you carry on”
Logan put his hand over Calvin’s hand and they stopped talking and sat there for about a minute that felt more like eternity.
“Are you okay with me?” Asked Logan.
“Sure - I’m aware of what’s real.”
Logan could sense Calvin’s insecurity, directed at him. If Calvin thought he wasn’t real with his feelings, he had to fix it. There’s magic in a flower; Logan had to remember that.
Calvin stood up from the bench and started to walk away. “I have to catch this train.” He said.
“Not without me, you’re not. I’m going too.”
“It’s Harlem.”
“I don’t care if it’s Saturn.” Said Logan “What’s so special about Harlem?”
“Oh, fuck it, c’mon,” said Cal and they went from Penn station uptown to Harlem together. Logan was content being with Cal and it didn’t matter where it happen to be.
Harlem wasn’t foreign to Logan anyway. He had been there several times to the Apollo and to Amy Ruth’s soul food restaurant on 116th street. He didn’t want Cal to know everyplace he had been. This was however, the first time he walked the streets of Harlem with a black boyfriend.
There was music, and the sound of people talking inside, when Calvin opened the door to cousin Lawrence’s crib. James and five other black bros, all men, were drinking, listening to music, eating and smoking weed. Only two people were smoking the others were drinking and shoving down food.
“Come in – come in, close the damn door, “said Lawrence.
They stepped into the room and Calvin started to introduce Logan.
His cousin Lawrence interrupted. “Wait! Don’t tell me, this tender young thing is Logan.”
“That’s me all day,” Replied Logan.
“I can tell that, oh yesss, you is fine. I’m crazy Lawrence, Cal’s main cousin.”
“And I can tell that. Good to meet you crazy cousin Lawrence,” said Logan.
“The brothers here for some festivity are my bros,” said Lawrence. He pointed going around the room. That is Joseph, Marcel, Harris, Roderick and the nigga coming from the kitchen is Terrell.
“Terrell, this is Logan” said Lawrence.
“Indeed it is; man you can catch a few rays, on my deck anytime,” said Terrell.
“Works for me,” replied Logan.
“I don’t think so,” piped in Calvin who was quiet until now.
It was only minutes before Logan was the center of attention. He liked everybody and they like him. Harris brought him a drink, Roderick told him where the food was in the kitchen, and Joseph offered him some weed, which he refused. He didn’t smoke cigarettes or dope and that was cool.
Calvin’s cousin Lawrence sat close to Logan and they chatted like no one else was in the room. Cal noticed everything, including Lawrence eying Logan’s crotch, like a sleeping frog between his legs. One didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what Lawrence was thinking.
Out of the blue, Calvin said to Logan. “Don’t forget we have reservations.”
“That’s right, and we should get moving.” Logan said, adding to the fabrication.
“Logan began shaking hands with everybody and getting a little squeeze here and there. Lawrence touched his butt and said “come back anytime sugar; maybe I should call you.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t,” said Calvin.
Lawrence laughed. “I just being neighborly,” and gave Calvin a brotherly hug. “Call me captain obvious,” he said
“You obvious alright,” added Calvin.
It was amazing how fast they got out of there and back to the street.
“So we have dinner reservations?” said Logan, rather coyly and raising one eyebrow.
“That was for you, I thought you wanted to get out of there. I didn’t know that Lawrence had company, especially those vultures.”
“They were cool” said Logan.
“A-huh.”
“Seriously, Terrell is a good looking guy, with a cushion butt.” Logan added.
“A-huh” Calvin said again.
“Your cousin, Lawrence, is cool” said Logan.”
“A-huh - no, no, no, don’t think so.”
“Is that all you can say - A-huh? - OMG you’re jealous. You care,” said Logan.
“Where are we going?” asked Calvin, not commenting on the jealous remark.
“It doesn’t matter where we go, you decide. I’ll go anywhere” said Logan touching Cal’s arm.
“Tell me, said Logan.
“Tell you what?”
“C’mon, tell me…..” Logan keep repeating.
“Of course I care,” Calvin finally admitted. “I care so much, that I freakin ache inside - there, you happy now?” He said.
“A-huh, said Logan imitating Cal’s way of commenting. Logan wanted to kiss Cal, but they were on the street, so that wasn’t such a hot idea. However, he did it anyway. It was quick, on the cheek and lacked passion, but sincere and Calvin knew it.
At 125th street, the subway doors slid open and they sat across from one another. Calvin finally moved next to Logan, as people got off and seats became available.
“Where do you want to have dinner?” he asked.
“You decide, but I am paying,” said Logan.
“I’m afraid you will have to, I don’t get paid until tomorrow, although we can use my visa card.”
“Nope” said Logan, “we’ll use mine.”
Going through Times Square, Logan stopped at a flower vender and bought a sprig of lily of the valley with a pin, and pinned it to Calvin’s shirt.
“What’s this” said Calvin.
“It’s the magic of a flower; I was told to do that, just this afternoon.”
“Solid advice,” said Calvin.
“Yup, I think so,” replied Logan straightening the flower on Cal’s shirt. There, you just went from fancy-free to lucky-me,” he said.
It was important for them to benefit from each other out of bed as well as in. From Delaware and North Carolina, to the sidewalks of New York, their casual meeting evolved into a loving relationship sexually rewarding. They feared not, about the desires inside of them, growing by leaps and bounds; they were happy together and only time would tell…
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To be continued...
Posted: 04/05/19