Page 71 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“What just happened?”said Joel.
“Someone gave you head in a train station toilet.”
“That’s what I thought.”Joel started laughing, verging on hysteria, doubled over in the passenger seat, hands still pressed to his face.
Reg started the car and pulled out of the car park.
By the time they reached the B4265, Joel had composed himself.“Where are we going?”
“I want to take you to Dunraven Castle,” said Reg.
“Another castle?”
“The castle’s been demolished, but the walled gardens are still there.I used to go when I was younger than you are now.I want to show it to you.”
As Reg drove, the sky changed from solid white to dark grey, and rain began hitting the windshield in long streaks.
“Are you going to take metoDunraven Castle, or are you going to take meatDunraven Castle?”said Joel.
“You’re too young to be making an innuendo like that.”
“I don’t feel too young,” said Joel.“Not after what you just did to me.”
By the time they reached Dunraven, the rain was clattering down.Reg pulled into the empty car park.The wind was gusting hard enough to shake the car.The visibility was so poor, the channel was obscured.
Reg sighed.“Better not get out.”
“Afraid I’ll get wet?”
“You don’t want to relapse,” said Reg.“No need to court pneumonia.”
They sat in silence, watching the rain streaming down the windows hypnotically, reminding Reg of driving Joel home the day he’d found him at the fountain.
“Are you going to fuck me?”said Joel.
“You’re not ready.”
“I was ready for a blow job,” said Joel.
“It’s not the same.”
Joel looked through the windscreen.“What if I asked you to.Would you?”
When Reg said nothing, Joel looked at him.“You fucked Flip.”
“Flip and I are the same age.”
“We’ll never be the same age,” said Joel.“Does that mean you’ll never?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Am I your boyfriend?”said Joel earnestly.
“Do you want to be?”
“Yes.”
“Then you are.”Reg reached across the seat and caressed the soft hair at the back of Joel’s neck.“You’ve just had your first blow job.Cool your jets.”
