Trefnepunk stood idly toying with the bar mop as he watched the rain give way to mist and finally turn to a thick fog. Running his hand through his blond hair, he checked the clock for the fourth time in as many minutes. He was the only person in the pub. Even the kitchen staff had left, but as bar manager he had to keep the doors open until last call – ninety minutes away. He yawned. Not given to the ennui most people would feel when alone in a bar on a rainy Tuesday night, he was restless. The blues drifting down from the speakers amplified his longing for company. To help pass the time he kept watch outside for some bit of life on the deserted street. A customer in for a quick pint on his way home would be a welcome diversion.
Finally the fog seemed to swirl, and something that looked like a person was coming toward the doors of Black Lake Island. Tref first thought it was fog shadows but then realized it was indeed a person. He turned toward the entrance in time to see the visitor enter. “Trefnepunk,” he shouted. “They told me you’d be here, but I wasn’t sure.”
“Fabglitter!” As boys they’d been the best of friends – almost inseparable. When Tref was exiled, he had to leave Fab behind. He’d mourned the loss of their friendship for months and daily expected that Fab would show up. He’d all but given up hope. “You come into my bar on a night like this and think I’m just going to drop all my regular customers for you,” Tref said looking hurt.
“What customers,” Fabglitter said looking around. “I thought Make Believe ended when you were exiled.” He’d always hated Make Believe and thought that he’d be free of it now. That coupled with the fact that Tref didn’t seem happy to see him killed his good mood and overshadowed the joy at finally being in the Grownup World.
“When did you get here.” Tref said trying to hide his glee.
“He kicked me out last night, and I’m got here this morning. I’ve been at the Office of Repatriation all day. I got some money, identification, and some clothes that actually fit,” he said turning ‘round to show them off. “And they were happy to tell me where to find you. I came immediately,” he said quite solemnly as he lifted off the floor and came to a stop directly in front of Tref.
“Fab be careful of doing that. People here won’t understand.”
“You can still fly can’t you?”
“Of course,” Tref said as he lifted into the air, spun ‘round in a circle, and settled back down into place. “Faery dust doesn’t wash off the way regular dust does.”
“What’s that you’re wearing,” Fab asked.
“It’s called a kilt.”
“I like it. How do you get a kilt,” Fab queried.
“You buy it. Didn’t they tell you anything at all about the World?” Tref had completely forgotten his own naivete upon arriving.
“They gave me a book about what to expect. I haven’t had a chance to look it. There aren’t any pictures.”
“Can you still read, Fab?”
“Not well. He took the two books away when you left, and Make Believe reading isn’t very good practice.”
“I’ll help you…”
“What about your ‘regular customers,’” Fab countered still hurt and confused.
“You can be one of them. We’ll start now. Have a seat. I’ll fix you a drink. A nice gin and tonic is what you need.” Fab watched amazed as Tref made his drink. “Taste it. It might take some getting used to.”
“I like this,” Fab said gulping his drink. “Can I have more?”
“Not right away Fab. I don’t want you getting so drunk you pass out your first night here,” he said. “Seriously slow down. Have you eaten?”
“Not in a while. The last three meals were Make Believe. That ruddy bastard was probably off filling his stomach with real food while we dined on Make Believe Porridge and What Not Stew.”
“He always has been a fuck,” Tref agreed. “What’d you do to get tossed out?”
“Same as you,” he said sheepishly. Trefnepunk raised his eyebrows and laughed. “Well, it feels good.”
“There are things that feel a lot better,” Tref answered. “Do you want something to eat?”
“Not Make Believe?”
“As real as Tanqueray and tonic,” Tref said walking toward the kitchen. The staff had left him a plate of food in the oven to keep warm. “Fish and chips to keep the growls from your belly Fab. Here’s some vinegar for the chips, and I’ll get you another drink.” He would make this one barely stronger than a Make Believe one. He was serious about getting Fab home conscious. “Did you get a place to live?”
“No. Can I stay here?”
“This isn’t a place to live Fab. It’s a pub. You can stay with me if you’d like.”
“Just like before?”
“It will probably be better. He’s not there,” Tref said flatly. “Are there many others left?”
“Only three. Not many babies fall out of their prams anymore.”
“Gotten smarter I expect. I wonder what he’ll do when they…”
“I don’t want to think about it. It was bloody awful after you left. I swear I wanted to follow you but I couldn’t.”
“I know, and it took you four years to get out.”
“Is that a long time here,” Fab asked. “I still don’t really understand time. Nothing ever really changes there.” Tref picked up the empty plate and glass and took them to the kitchen. He grabbed his coat from the hook on his way back.
“It’s time to close down here and go home. Wait by the door, and I’ll turn off the lights.” Seconds later the doors were locked, and they were on their way home.
“Where do you live,” Fab asked.
“Second on the right and on til morning,” Tref said laughing. “I’ll race you.” They lifted off the ground and flew up above the city. “We can’t do this all the time, but tonight, I want to fly.” For what seemed like hours they played tag above the city. Finally, Tref was exhausted and suggested they go home. “Follow me, it’s close to the pub.” In fact it was across the street and two doors down on the right, so Tref had told an interesting variation on a simple truth.
Inside the flat, Tref kicked off his boots and peeled the sox from his feet. “It’s been a long day for me Fab,” he announced. “I’m going to take a shower…”
“What’s a shower,” Fab asked looking puzzled.
“It’s to get clean. It’s kind of like playing under the waterfalls, but it’s got hot water.”
“I want to take a shower,” Fab said with an excitement in his voice that made Tref smile.
“As soon as I’m done. Then I’ll fix us another gin drink before bed.”
“Like the ones at the pub?”
“I’ll do something different now. I’ve got better ingredients – the stuff to make things,” he clarified for Fab.
II
Tref stood on the mat and looked up from drying his beard to find an equally naked Fab looking at him with an air of awe. They’d seen each other naked hundreds of time, but now their bodies were adult. With the layer of muscle over his wiry frame, Tref could have posed as a discus thrower for a Greek sculptor. Fab by contrast was the kurios – younger, sleeker, shaven, in need of experience. As if reading his friend’s thoughts, Tref brought his hands up behind Fab’s neck and pulled him down until their lips met. Their bodies moved closer, and Tref felt Fab’s response against his thigh as their lips parted and their tongue’s vied for dominance. Fab pulled away from the embrace. “You’ve done this before, Tref?”
“Yes.”
“A lot?”
“Enough. Fab, does it bother you that there were others?”
“No. I like that.”
“Really,” Tref said with astonishment in his voice.
“One of us should know what to do.”
“I assure you, I’m nearly an expert in ‘what to do.’” He helped Fab step into the shower, showed him how to regulate the water, how to lather the soap. “Did you see me dry off,” Tref queried.
“Yes.”
“Do you think you can do that for yourself?” Fab nodded. “When you’re done, come into the kitchen. I’ll have your drink ready.”
“Is gin necessary,” Fab wondered aloud.
“No, but it’s nice to have.”
“I like gin,” Fab said with glee.
“I thought you would.”
Half and hour later Fab entered the kitchen. “I used a comb I found in the shower room. Is that alright.”
“Yes. It’s fine. Here’s your gin drink. I made it with honey and lime.”
“Lime…”
“You’ll like it I promise,” Tref answered. He watched as Fab tasted the drink.
“It’s better than the last,” he exclaimed. “I want…” Tref quieted him by placing his mouth over his friend’s. “That’s a thimble isn’t it?”
“He called it a thimble. It’s called a kiss here.”
“I don’t care what it’s called; I like it Tref,” he said looking at Tref with confusion on his face. “What are those?”
“On my arms, are tattoos,” Tref explained. “These are piercings,” he said pointing to his nipples. “You can touch them if you like.” Fab ran his hands across Tref’s shoulders and upper arms, then moved down to his pecs to feel the barbells through his nipples.
“Do they hurt?”
“To get, but not now,” I told him.
“I want some,” Fab declared taking a long drink of his gin drink.
“Maybe this weekend…”
“Not bloody Make Believe either,” Fab complained. “I’m tired of Make Believe.”
“Alright,” Tref said. “What’s all this about Make Believe?”
“Your bloody ‘regular customers.’”
“I do have regular customers. They just weren’t there tonight.”
“No one was.”
“Fab, I know that. I was there. Be nice. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“You didn’t come back for me.”
“Because you can’t Fab. Once you live here you can’t go back there. You can fly as long as you keep in practice, but you can’t go back there. I tried it one time and was lost for three days. You didn’t come to me either Fab. I waited.”
“You waited for me?”
“Yes. Then tonight you show up, and…” his words were cut off my Fab grabbing him and giving him a thimble. It was full of hunger and passion that had been pent up in Fab for months. Tref had been able to express his lust and learn from masters of the concupiscent arts, but Fab trapped between boy and man had only known what he could discover on his own. Now the fruition of his desire came shooting out like a stream of champagne from a shaken bottle. Fab broke away filled with a satisfied guilt showing plainly on his face. Tref took a moment to regain his composure and his breath. “I guess you’re ready,” he said picking Fab up and carrying him to the bedroom. “I’ll teach you things you never even dreamed existed.”
The Sun came through the window and Fab untangled himself from Tref’s embrace. He’d learned many things last night, but he knew there was more Tref could teach him. “Wake up Tref,” he commanded petulantly.
“Fab,” Tref groaned with a smile and sat up to kiss Fab. “I’ll fix us breakfast in a minute,” he said placing a thimble on Fab’s lips. “Then we can go out and explore.”
All this happened ages ago, but Tref and Fab still explore everyday, and that’s what keeps us young.
