Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:24:44 -0500
From: storyteller509@aol.com
Subject: The Preacher's Man           chapter one....

     This is a story of a man that loved a man, and was honored by having
that love returned to him..  If this offends you, go away. This story is
true.  Some names have been changed, but all else is true.  Painfully true.



			   "The Preacher's Man"

				Chapter One
		       The Black Canvas Shaving Bag



     Mark pressed the up button to the elevator, the door closed and began
to lift to the sixth floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  He was wondering if
this would be just another discrete meeting that would leave him still
empty inside. The door opens and Mark makes his way down the hall toward
suite 627 , then remembers out loud, " I forgot to brush my teeth, John is
gonna think I'm a pig."  Mark is a clean and fresh freek. He turned around
and went back to the elevator and pressed the button and the faint bell
rang and the door opened.  Mark returned to the ground floor, found the
public restroom located near the lobby desk and went in.

    He opened his small black canvas shaving bag and removed his toothbrush
and toothpaste.  He stood there brushing his teeth remembering the many
times he had carried this same bag on the many trips with friends and way
too many empty encounters. The black shaving bag was a constant companion
for Mark.  He kept it in his truck, behind the seat , safe and stocked for
whatever his needs might call for.

   Would it be different?  Would this man, that was so very good looking,
even touch him?  Would he be just another disappointment where the guy just
wanted a quick blow-job and then go away forever. He says his name is John,
(original huh?), but he is definitely a looker. Mark was so excited when
John returned a response to his email on the site for men seeking men.
John is a very sexy young man that could make him crazy.. if the chemistry
is right.  ... Beautiful eyes .... hairy, sexy chest and body ... little
stubbby trimmed beard ...all the attributes that Mark's fantasy man
possessed.

     Did I mention his sexy eyes?

      It had been so long since Mark had really connected with another man,
that he was growing cynical that there could be anyone left in this world
that would like him, yet alone love him.

     Mark placed the toothbrush back into the container and placed it back
in the black bag, and remembered the first time he had a need to buy this
bag in the first place.  The memory took him back twelve years to the day
he met the man that had been the love of his life, Daniel.


      Daniel.  The rock of Mark's life, left him way too early.  Incurable,
untreatable brain tumor.  Mark was convinced that he would die with him ,
and I guess part of him did.He would have easily taken his place.

        Painful?  ..................... yes.

        Regrets? ..................... not a one.


     Mark lives a complicated life. He is married, a now retired music
minister, and discovered his attraction to men after he had already made a
commitment to his high school sweetheart to be a husband that would love
her until the death parted them.

       Noble? ...............possibly.

      Complicated?........... completely.

      His thoughts went back to a time that seemed to be another life ago.

     "Mark, This is Daniel, You don't know me, but I am on the committee of
Veterans affairs " he heard when he answered his phone.  "We are putting
together a forth of July celebration , here in town, and could really use
your help in organizing the music portion of the celebration."

     Mark stood there thinking ... not again.  It seems that every time an
event was held that required some form of a music production, his phone
eventually would ring and there would be someone on the other end that
believed that it was a great opportunity for him.

     "I know you probably get this request often" (did he read my mind?)
"But , I was just hoping we could meet and discuss our plans and get your
input if at all possible. Your name come up in the last meeting and I would
really like to talk with you."

     " Sure, I'd be happy to meet with you" Mark said.  He is such a push
over for a man with a sexy voice.  "When do you want to meet?"

     "Well ....... it's this evening at six, at the first Baptist church, I
am the pastor there.  I know it's short notice, and if you can't make it
... I'm kinda screwed. I was supposed to have called you last week, I've
been out of town, I'm building a cabin in the mountains and have just got
back home and this is our last meeting before we begin the final
plans. I...."

     "It's fine .......... it's fine .... no problem," Mark interrupted, "
I can be there. "

     "Oh Man ....... thank you so very much. We .... I really need you. I
will owe you big time for this one"

     "I'll see you there .... "  Mark said his good-byes and hung up the
phone and just stood there considering the voice of the man he had just
been chatting with.

     After moving his evening plans around, later that evening, Mark was
standing at the door of the First Baptist Church fellowship hall.  He
opened the door to find a room filled with veterans. All ages.  Some in
wheelchairs, some that were in business suits, others were in shorts and
t-shirts.  The room was loud with the conversation that was shared among
friends. Everyone was talking at the same time. Some laughing and making
funny remarks, others seem to be present in body only.

    "Mark" I heard my name called.  I turned to see a man coming toward me
with his outstretched hand.

    "I am Daniel ....... I am so glad to finally meet you."

    I took his hand in mine and felt the warm, firm, grip of a real man and
when he put his other hand over mine .. I just about melted.  Daniel was
looking into my eyes when he spoke to me. He was a well dressed
man. Crisply dressed in his starched pale blue shirt and red striped tie,
navy slacks and dress shoes.  He smelled like ....... heaven. He looked
like.. god.  On the inside I was thinking ..... say something ......say
something.... don't just stare at him .... speak,...... you have spoken
before, .....you can do it again!

      I finally squeaked out .... "Hi, it's really nice to meet you too."
(On the inside I'm saying, let his hand go..  let his hand go ..... your
standing in a room full of men, holding this good looking pastors hand way
too long... think with the head on your shoulders for a change, not the one
in your pants.)

     Daniel just stood there ....... holding my hand.  Smiling. Staring
into my eyes.

     Reality hit me and I asked, " Are all the meetings this loud?"

     Daniel released my hand and said, "Your in a room full of brothers, we
all act like a big ole dysfunctional family.  Come sit with me, we need to
talk. I am a retired Air Force pilot, I'm kinda used to all the noise and
the guys."

   Daniel turned and pointed toward a table next to the one that had
cookies, drinks, and sandwiches that were arranged on platters for the men
to enjoy.  He stepped in front of me and I smelled his faint cologne and
thought that this had to be the best smelling man in the world. He picked
up a handful of cookies, two cans of coke and said, " lets sit here."

    "I'm aware that you don't know me" Daniel started, "but I have been
wanting to talk to you for quite a while and ask you about another
situation as well." He opened a coke and handed it to me.

     Oh me ... I thought,........ what has he heard about me.  I didn't
care.... If this man asked me to cut off my toes and stick them up my ass
one by one, hand me the knife.  He had me. I took the can and took a quick
sip.

   "What can I do for you?" I asked.  ( my list of things in my head was
growing by the second .... and so was something in my pants.)

    "I know your are pretty well known in these parts for your work in
church music and ...well, our music minister passed away suddenly about
four months ago and we are just beginning to look for a music man.  Your
name has been given to me by several members and I just want to let you
know .... I am going to convince you to come work with me eventually
..... so you might as well surrender now and save us both some time."
Daniel looked me straight in the eye and winked.  He smiled and reached
over and put his hand on mine for just a second.

    We both laughed a little.

     I had left my last church a couple of months earlier and had decided
to give it a rest for a while and was not seeking a position in a church at
all ......... but that all changed when Daniel winked at me.

     "What do you need for the July forth celebration?" I asked trying to
change the subject.

     We discussed the whole event and I hung on Daniel's every word and
tried keep my thoughts clean for the rest of the conversation. The needs
were pretty simple, and I had enough connections with vendors that owed me
favors and had the problem solved for the veterans celebration with just a
few phone calls.

   Mark was bumped back into reality when the restroom door opened.  A
short gray headed man walks through the door of the hotel lobby restroom,
took his place at a urinal. From the sound of water splashing with the
force of Niagara Falls, ole boy made it there just in time. He stood there
faintly humming a slow undetectable melody, quickly zipped up and left
after rinsing his hands.  Never said a word. Nor did I.

     Mark opened the worn black canvas shaving bag and took out a hair
brush and raked it over his graying hair a couple of times.  He looked at
the reflection in the mirror and considered if he had the energy to go back
up to the sixth floor to meet a new friend named John. Who knows.

    Mark and John had chatted and exchanged pictures many times in the past
couple of weeks. Mark was really intimidated by men that looked as good as
John.  You know, those , deep voiced, dark haired, younger, sexy eyed,
confident smile, gorgeous furry body, athletic, professional dressed
men. The kind fantasies and dreams are made of. The type a fifty year old
Mark would never expect a second look from. But for some reason, John was
just as complimentary toward Mark. Life could be good ...... well at least
for a couple of hours!

 He walked out of the restroom at the Crowne Plaza lobby turned left,
walked across the beautiful lobby , gave a pleasant nod to the lady at the
desk, and when he got to the elevator doors, pressed the elevator up
button, the faint bell rang.  Mark stepped inside, then pressed the button
on the wall labeled six.


I hope you enjoy reading my story.  My name is Anthony Cole.  Please send
comments to storyteller509@aol.com