Page 122 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“I’ll pay for it.”
Joel stared at him, misty-eyed.“Why would you do that?”
“Because I care about you.Obviously.”
“But I haven’t done anything to deserve it,” said Joel.
“You deserve it by virtue of being you, cariad.Go.Apply.And don’t worry about the money.”
“I don’t know what to say,” said Joel.
“Thanks?”
“‘Thanks’ doesn’t cover it.”
Later, Reg asked Joel if he needed help with his application, but Joel insisted on writing his essay himself, though he had Reg check the draft to see if it read well.And he asked Reg to help him choose a photograph of himself to submit from the hundreds Reg had taken of him in England.
“I’m trying to be objective,” said Joel, poring over them.
“Well, don’t.There’s nothing objective about this.”
“You know,” said Joel, “when you had me dress up in these costumes and pose for you, you were training me to be an actor, like you knew I was going to be one.”
“Or I just wanted to look at you in all these costumes because you’re beautiful in every aspect, and I wanted to capture that.”
“I’m not beautiful, Reg,” said Joel.“Not by any objective measure.”
“I’m not sure that kind of modesty will carry you far as an actor.”
“Did you think I was handsome when you first met me?”said Joel.
“I thought you were an untapped well of sexual promise.”
Joel laughed.“No, really.Did you?”
“Good lord, no.But you’ve changed drastically since then.”
“So have you.”
“Did you think I was handsome?”
“I didn’t really notice what you looked like.I was so burned out from studying, and I just wanted my ginger ale.But now, I think you’re incredible.”Joel smiled and kissed Reg.
By the time Joel pulled back, Reg had Joel’s shirt half unbuttoned.
“So, which one would you pick?”said Joel.
“This.”Reg selected a photo of Joel dressed in a hunting jacket, holding Reg’s grandfather’s old rifle, and looking off into the distance with a wistful expression.
Joel submitted his application and sat back in his chair.“All I have left to do is prepare for the audition, and that doesn’t happen until January.It’s out of my hands now.”
“I think I can find a way to distract you,” said Reg and continued unbuttoning Joel’s shirt.
The next day, Joel was back to narrating audiobooks, and he was cast in another short audio play off the back of a recommendation from the director of the last play.Life fell into a calm, purposeful rhythm.
Reg spent his days at Flat Mary’s place listening to various musical interpretations of his poems.Flat Mary asked Reg if he could sing so he could lay down a vocal track for one of the poems.
“You’ve got a deep, intense voice, man,” said Flat Mary.
