Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:04:02 -0500
From: storyteller509@aol.com
Subject: "The Preachers Man"     chapter three   "First Date"

         This is a true story. Only the names have been changed to keep
your ass guessing.  If man to man love scares you, you will not like the
story of my life.


Chapter three    "First Date"


     Mark stood looking at the heavy wood door at the Crowne Plaza that
divided him from John. Mark had warned John that he was as attracted to him
in person as he was on the phone and in pictures, he would come through the
ready to kiss a man like a man needs to be kissed.  Long .... hard .... and
deep.

     Mark was ready............ to get on with his life. New chapters, new
experiences.  It is not that he would ever forget Daniel, but it was time.

     Too many lonely days even though surrounded by people.

     Too many empty dreams, ... it's like the other half of your soul is
missing.

      Too many years ahead not to try to find fulfillment, even if it was
temporary, or who knows, it could be eternally perfecto!

      "Here it goes" Mark said to himself as he raised his hand to knock on
the door ... but before he could knock, the door began to open ....... and
there he stood,.... dammit what a man........... John.  ....Yes.


     First day's at a new job are at best ..... stressful, but this first
day was, ... was like wearing a pair of comfortable old shoes.

     The first Sunday at the new church for Mark was incredible.  He had
met with the choir and musicians only once before the big day arrived and
they were as excited as he was.  The church had been without a music man
for a while, since the unexpected death of Joel.

     Joel was a very talented man. He had led the music program through a
transition from a very formal setting to a more relaxed atmosphere.  Change
like that does not happen overnight and Mark was very appreciative of all
the efforts and progress that Joel had made.  Joel had a bit of a weight
problem, combined with the diabetes and his love of food and hatred of
exercise, he was in heaven by the age of forty two.

    The morning services always had a small orchestra and praise band.
Familiar selections and the excitement of a new music man made the day one
to remember forever in Mark's mind.

     Following the morning service there was a reception for Mark and his
family.  It was a way to meet everyone and for the people of the church to
get to know him a little more as well.  Mark's whole family was there.  His
two sons, his mother, and two sisters surprised him by being there.

     Daniel was smiling like the cat that swallowed the canary when he
finally had a moment to drag Mark to his office for a few words.

      "I expected today to be big, but wow!"

        "Me too ...... I can't believe the outpouring of so many caring
people .... it seems that everyone was really ready to move forward.  What
kind of stories have you been tellin these people?""

     " We just already love you ..... ", With that statement, Dan looked at
Mark and there was a more serious look on his face.  "I had no Idea that I
could come to know and respect another man ... as quick as I have come to
know you.  It's like we have always known each other."

      "I'm pretty much ...... amazed at the way we have just linked and
gone forward.  I mean Even the areas of the service that can normally be
awkward with a new leader, like invitation signals and just moving from
choir to message ..... it was pretty smooth. "

       " Joel and I never had that..... it was always a struggle to
understand where he was coming from for me. I don't know what the
difference is ........ but let's not think it over too much, just let it
happen."

     " Thanks ......."

     "For what?"

      "For giving me this chance ........ for healing, for work, but mostly
for just your support and care."

      "I told you .... I would protect you, remember?  That meant every
aspect that I possibly can protect.  I want you to rest in knowing, I have
your back man."

      "I've got my eye on yours too".

      "Are you packed and ready to head for the hills?"

      "No .... but it won't take me but a few minutes."

      "Mondays are usually slow around here, so we could get an early
start."

      "How early?  ....... I am not really a morning person."

       "I'll give you a break this time ....... how 'bout I pick you up at
7:00?"

        "You do mean AM?"

        "Yep ......"

        "That will be fine."

         The two men continued their planning and soon left the church,
feeling that the day had been really good.

        The ride home was peaceful between Mark and his wife.  She had also
gained a really close friend in Daniels wife.  They had hit it off like old
friends and they were planning to get together for dinner the next day.
Mark thought that he had really found a place that would meet many needs in
his life as begins this new chapter in his life at First Baptist.

       "Are you and Daniel leaving early tomorrow?"

        "Yep, he said he would pick me up at 7:00 in the morning."

       "Well, I think he will be good for you ..... you be nice to
him...... your not a kind man at 7:am you know .... I'm glad you two have
become close friends ...... y'all act like you've known each other
forever."

        "Strange .... isn't it."

        "A little bit ........ but just enjoy it ..... we both know how it
is when you and the pastor don't particularly want to spend time together.
I'm glad you can finally have a friend like Daniel ..... he is such a good
man."

        " You know I told him my whole story .... of my past."

        "Really?  ...  I'm glad you did.  .... and he didn't freak out or
anything?"

       "Not a bit.  He just said I need to relax and move on. "

       "He's a smart man.  .... and He smells really good too"

       "Really? ........ I haven't noticed."

      Mark just about laughed at his own statement.  His wife was really
impressed with Mark's new friend... and her new pastor."


         After arriving home, Mark began to gather his things for his trip
to the mountains with Daniel.

          "Have you seen my shaving bag?  I thought it was in the hall
closet?"

          "You mean that worn out, old green, nasty, bag that the can of
shaving cream got bumped in it and sprayed that mess all over stuff in
it?..................... I threw away."

         "Well , I guess that would be why I can't find it."

         "Go buy you a new one.  It was time to bury that old bag."

         "It was my friend"

          "It smelled funny..... you'll survive without it . We don't have
services this evening, let's go to the mall, and get you a new one."

         "Ok ...... let me change and I'll be ready to go."

         Mark and his wife made their way to the mall and as usual, split
up to get the tasks done. Mark is a hunter- gatherer kind of shopper, find
what you want, buy it , get out.  Mark's wife, on the other hand feels that
it is necessary to visit ALL of her favorite shops like they are her
dearest friends.

         Big day to go shopping.... there were a lot of shoppers for it to
be a hot, Sunday afternoon. Mark walked through the mall shops. Passing the
store with the young guys on posters who have hardly any clothes on, yet
they are the advertising posters for the store. They certainly are
attention getters!  He made his way to the luggage shop ....... there was a
bag, 79.95 ... I think not.

      Mark was contemplating his trip with Dan that was finally going to
happen in the morning.  Remembering the scent of Daniel's cologne, He
finally went to men's fragrances. Determined to find that scent, Mark began
the hunt.  Too strong.... too sweet ....too stinky .... too heavy ....too
expensive ... too strange .... then he sprayed the Polo cologne onto the
little fragrance card. The scent was Daniel.  Mark smiled of the memories
of the first scent of smelling Daniel. That first day at the veteran
meeting.  Mmm.

     Mark was lost in his thoughts but was brought back to reality when the
distinguished tall, young, good looking salesman said,

     "Honey, did you find it?"

      Mark thought, looks can be soooooooo deceiving. You know when you
just know a man is going to have that deep, sexy voice, then he opens his
mouth....

     "Yes ....... I, I did."

     "It's kinda old school if you ask me", dumb-assed sales boy said. "but
it sells."

     "I think it smells like Heaven ... "

     "You want the gift set, it's on sale?"

     "No, actually, I had smelled this on someone and was just wondering
what the fragrance was."

      Dumb-assed sales boy leaned over the counter a little and said, "You
have a crush on a man. I can spot a crush a mile away." Then he smiled and
said, "Your gonna get your heart broke."

     "Kiss my ass." Mark was surprised at his own response to the swishy
sales boy.

    "Honey, I'm the king of"get your heart broke".... so just enjoy the
ride... while it lasts."

     Mark just laughed at the salesman.  Stood there ... speechless.

     "It's way worse than a crush buddy ........ I'd drink his bathwater."

      "mmm mmm mm.  Been there ....... and wish i was there again." said
sales boy.

      "It's a good place to visit for sure."

      "Like I said ........ enjoy the ride.  What else could I help you
with"

       "I need a shaving bag or something like that."

       "OK, stop sniffin your boyfriends cologne and come over here, I have
a gift set of something you might like."

         Mark just smiled ........ walked around the counter and picked up
the sample Solomon suggested.  It was Allure, by channel.  "Nice scent"
Mark commented as he smelled the card sample.

       "You will have him following you anywhere you want with this honey."
as he handed the gift bag to Mark.

        Mark took the black canvas shaving bag and began to remove the
contents.  Travel size bottles and lotions, soaps and shampoo.

        "I'll take it."

        "I knew you would .............. is that a wedding ring on your
hand? "

        "Yes,..... you caught me ......  he has one too."

        "Everybody just wants to be loved."  With that last statement, he
took Mark's card, swiped it , printed the receipt and said, Hon, sign right
here."

        Mark signed the slip and handed it back to sales boy.

        "just as I expected, you forgot to give me your phone number
......... "

        "Your a mess!"

        "Honey, you have no idea..... I hope you and Romeo don't hurt each
other "

        "I kinda hope we do .... just a little bit."  Mark answered.

        "You drop by here and let me know what's goin on ........ I do love
a good story."

        "I'll consider it"

        Mark found his wife a few minutes later and they made the trip home
after a quiet dinner at
       Aldo's.

         Finally with his bags packed and now resting in bed ...... Mark
went through all the images of the day, the conversations ....... the
comfortable way he felt with Daniel.  The funny, perceptive man at
Dillard's at the mall.

         What a day.

        Mark's alarm clock bellowed a horrible sound and woke him from the
restful dreams .  His wife was leaving to go to her job at the hospital and
now it was 6:00 am and only an hour till he would be leaving to go with
Daniel.

     Mark rushed through the shower, but made sure EVERYTHNG was squeeky
clean, he took out some new underwear, some jeans, and got dressed.  Hewas
sitting on the porch reading when Daniel drove up in his big white Ford
pick-up truck. In the back of the truck was a small bundle of lumber and a
few tools.  The most impressive thing he saw was the smile on the face of
his new friend.  ,
     "Are you raring to go?" Dan asked out of his window as he made his way
into Mark's drive way.

      "Yessir Buddy!"

      Mark walked to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door to
be met by a avalanche of empty drink bottles, paper wads, and an assortment
of trash fell out onto the ground around his feet.

      "Hold on" .......... Dan looked like he had just offended the
Pope. He jumped out of the drivers door and ran around and picked up the
trash surrounding Mark's feet.

     "Housekeeping is not my strong suit."

     "Really ............. do you need a shot gun or anything.... are you
sure all that stuff is dead?"

     "Well you might want to step back a little just in case"

     Daniel gathered all the trash from the ground and from the floor of
the truck in just a couple of seconds, tossed it all in a bag and then
stepped over to my outdoor trash container and threw it inside.

    "Sorry man.  I am in this truck a lot .....  and sometimes it gets a
bit messy."

    Mark looked inside the truck and it was .... uh .... a bit lived in to
put it mildly.

    Daniel picked up Mark's luggage pieces and put them into the tool box
on the bed of the truck.

    "I thought this morning would never get here." Daniel said.

    "Why is that?"

    "Get in the truck .... we need to get going."

    "Yessir ......... "

     Daniel rested his hand on Mark's shoulder and said, "I am really
looking forward to getting to know you."

     Mark got into the truck, closed the door and watched Daniel walk to
his side, open the door and hopped into his seat, started the truck, and
pulled from the driveway.  Life was about to change forever for these two
men.

    The day was warm ...... the sun was bright,..... it seemed to be the
perfect day for a drive to the mountains.  It is only a three hour drive
away, and it gave the men plenty of time to talk ... and tell their stories
to each other.

   "Thanks for asking me to come with you?"

   "I can't believe you agreed so quick."

    "What do you mean?"

     "I just thought you might not want to get "acquainted" with me so
fast."

      "Daniel, I have thought about nothing but this trip ever since you
asked me and......did you just call me a ho?"

      "No sir, Daniel laughed, ......... I would never think something like
that about you."

      "I was just messin with you.... thought you might have been reading
my mind."

      "I wasn't."

       Daniel was dressed in worn Levi's jeans and a plain white t-shirt.
His tanned arms were lightly covered in hair.  6'2" and every bit man.  His
Brave's baseball cap had been around for a few days and fit perfectly on
his head.  He was resting his right arm across the back of the seat, giving
Mark a clear view of his body and he was drinking it all up.  It appeared
that Daniel was a smooth man, very little body hair.  The hair that was
there was dark, nearly black.

       "Mark, What are yo planning?  you kinda look like a hungry animal
looking at dinner ....... what's up buddy."

       Mark, feeling a bit guilty, and a bit embarrassed, said ........ "I
am so sorry, I just ...."

     Daniel laughed, "No need to explain to me buddy, ....... I like how
you were looking at me.... if you were driving and I was sitting there, I'd
be looking at you the same way."

          I was sitting there with my arm on the wide center arm rest.
Daniel took his arm from behind, on the back of the seat, and placed his
hand on top of mine on the armrest. It was a deliberate touch. It felt like
the most natural touch I had experienced in my life thus far. He squeezed
my hand a little and asked, " Are you ok with me touching you and holding
your hand like this?"

       Mark relaxed and said, "Yes sir ........ I am ."


(authors note ... You will find as you read my story, it can be a little
complicated to follow and I'm sorry for that.  Sometimes when I'm writing
this down, it feels so real and fresh, that I have to leave the third
person persona and just speak to you the way it happened.)


Let me know what you think. storyteller509@aol.com