Chapter 9 - The Replacement Actor

A note from Paul Bright.

Sylvia watched the man laying on his back on the station platform, his legs twitching intermittently. Deep down in her subconscious this human reminded Sylvia of Sylvester after he'd mounted her a couple weeks ago and then promptly fell asleep, his legs periodically kicking the air. But this human was alone. She wondered what it meant.

Ethan and Leo stood in the front row waving their hands in the air, singing along to the encore of Mamma Mia! Behind them were 200 gay men, harmonizing. It was a Sensurround gay men's chorus.  Kelsey and the rest of the cast took their final bows, the house exploded with wild applause, and a joyous feeling of love and acceptance washed over the crowd. The older men had tears in their eyes. The house lights came up and the men drifted toward the exits, laughing and singing musical phrases from their favorite ABBA songs.

"I prefer a guy I can grab a hold of," Leo said and cast a devilish glance at Ethan's mother."I do too. Ethan's father was very handsome but lean. Part Mohawk.  Ohhh, my parents were not pleased when they met him. They were 'Good Catholics' and when they found out I was pregnant they were beside themselves. Calice! It was bad enough I was dating a patient I met during med school residency, la la. But an Indian - that's what they called him..."

"Now arriving at Twin Firs, famous for its hungry hikers who get lost in the woods. Watch out for the bears - they usually gather in the bushes behind the depot. But don't tell Brakeman Ethan that - he says he's regained his virginity. Girrrrl, it don't grow back," Jorge announced on the mic.

"Is your name Billy?""No. It's Leo Grabowski. Who uses a real name on a hookup site?""I do," Ethan said softly. "I'm a schoolteacher. What if one of the parents found me online?""I don't know, Billy.""Please don't call me that. Please don't ever use that name with me."

“I work here. With my now ex-boyfriend. We run two shows a night in repertory. Tonight I'm an egomaniacal diva in Evita. Tomorrow we rip out the Argentina set and load in Greece where I'm an egomaniacal diva in Mamma Mia. Sundays and Thursdays we run Moulin Rouge where I'm an egomaniacal diva with a French accent. How they ever cast me as an egomaniacal diva I will never know.” Kelsey batted her long eyelashes and feigned innocence.

“You've been let down by a man, too? Life's a bitch isn't it.” There wasn't much else to say after that. Kelsey's heart was breaking. Ethan's heart had never healed. And Tricos proved she was just as lonely as them. The three commiserated in the afternoon sun.

Jorge Hernandez was annoyed. He was sitting in Roosters Chicken Restaurant waiting for 'Fun in the Sun' – a self-proclaimed nudist with a gorgeous hairy chest and green eyes who hangs out at clothing-optional Rooster Rock on weekends – to walk through the door. Jorge messaged him on Bareback three hours ago and they agreed to meet for lunch in Waltersville before going back to his place. Jorge suggested Roosters – he figured the irony would appeal to this sun loving guy who had a great ass and attractive cock. Although the guy's dick didn't matter as much to Jorge as long as it was big enough to hit the right spots. The guy said he was versatile, which usually means bottom, but Jorge was in need of something less rubbery than his toys.

Leo Grabowski was terrified. It's the second time in his life he knew he was about to die. It was the third night of his backcountry hiking adventure at the Cascadian Western Resort. The first day was bad; with no one to talk with he engaged in lengthy conversations with himself. The second day was better; his mind was starting to settle. He was still feeling withdrawal anxiety from not being around people but when it got bad he'd turn on his cell phone a few minutes to text friends. On the third day he decided to keep his phone off and just listen to the wind, the birds, the squirrels. Dinner tonight would be a treat – a vacuum sealed salmon steak he planned to grill on his campfire.