Page 364 - Some Dance to Remember

334 Jack Fritscher

Solly had picked the boy for that very reason. He watched the kid’s
Look register on Ryan’s face. “There’s more ways than one,” Solly said, “to
skin a cat. This boy is as beautiful in his own way as any man you know.”
The blond hustler ambled on bowlegs toward Ryan on the couch.
“Jake,” Solly said, “this is Ryan.”
“Yeah, buddy,” Jake said. His voice was Oklahoma. “Merry Christ-
mas. I’m your present.” He pulled out a joint. “You wanna smoke this or
whu-u-a-t?”
Solly shared a toke or two. Then he left for the kitchen. “I’ve got a roast
in the oven,” he said. “The bedroom’s ready when you are.”
An hour later, Ryan and Jake left the bedroom, showered together,
dressed, and came into the living room.
Solly looked at his watch. “Safe sex must take longer. You certainly
got my money’s worth.”
Ryan and the hustler both grinned.
“Can he stay for dinner?” Ryan asked.
“They always stay for dinner,” Solly said. “Anything Father Flanagan
can do for lost boys, I can do better.”
The roast came from the oven, tender with overcooking. The gravy
came from a package, the potatoes from a box, the cranberries from a can.
They sat at a glass table eating and watching the short December sunset.
Jake said very little. He lit another joint and passed it around the table.
“It makes the food taste better,” he said.
Ryan laughed. Solly made a face.
Suddenly, Jake pushed back from the table. “Can I have a raw egg?”
he asked.
Solly pointed him toward the refrigerator.
“And another beer?”
“Now he wants egg in his beer,” Solly said.
“Who doesn’t?” Ryan said.
Jake juggled the egg and the beer. He walked to the window. He
opened it and stuck his head out. “Hey!” he said, “there’s a rope hanging
from a post on the roof way down below. I think it’s a noose.”
Solly went to the window. “It’s a noose alright. It’s been there for
years.”
“Watch this.” The kid held the raw egg out the window. He dropped
it, counting and laughing until it splattered on the roof far below.
“Isn’t this fun?” Solly said. “Almost as much fun as New Year’s. You
remember New Year’s, don’t you, Ry? Before you met Kick. When you
had to have a fist up your ass at the stroke of midnight?”

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