Trumpeting Carriages: A Love Story

"Reggie, I'm sure you did fine. The procession stands to be a bit stingy." "But, Kyle, I want to perform. How can I do that if Jackson won't let me practice?" Reggie sighed. He didn't know what else he could do. "I will never been good enough to perform for the King and Queen if I can't work on my trumpeting. Playing the same old fanfare… How will I ever improve? I need more." Kyle didn't want to interrupt. He knew Reggie needed to vent.

Reggie didn't say anything for a few minutes but Kyle could hear him breathing heavy. Reggie was trying not to cry. "Rege," Kyle started, "no matter what Jackson says, I still think you're the best trumpeter in Far, Far, Away." He broke Reggie. Reggie couldn't hold back tears anymore. His face became wet and slimy. If Kyle were there, Reggie was sure he'd be repulsed. "Rege, I love you. You'll be home in a week and you can practice on me all you want. You are the best person I know. You are smart, funny, energetic, spontaneous… You make me happy. I believe in you and your abilities. I love you." Reggie was hysterically sobbing now. "I love you too, Kyle," he whispered.

"Rege, I have to go now. I love you. You'll be home in a week and we can practice and make Jackson regret his words. I know you're better than he thinks you are. He's jealous. Smile, at the very least, you still have me." "Thank you Kyle," Reggie sniffled. "I… I'll see you in a week." He was unsure of what else to say. Kyle meant so much to him but he couldn't think of the rights words to say to express himself. He had a week to figure them out. Kyle hoped for some more of a send-off but could tell Reggie was having a difficult time. He slowly hung up the portable crystal ball. He just needed to make it a week and he'd be happy again.

A week had passed and Kyle was in the market. "Basil, pumpkin meat, talking radish… Oh there was something else..." Reggie was coming home today and Kyle wanted everything to be perfect. He had planned to make Reggie's favourite meal complete with dessert. The only problem was Kyle didn't know when Reggie was due back. He had to make his trip to Far, Far, Away Farmer's Market fast. He was missing one more ingredient for Reggie's favourite stew but couldn't remember what it was. "Oh, Farquaad. What was that spice… Fairy dust? No. Rude fungus? No. Eye of Newton? Not quite." He smacked himself. Kyle noticed an old hag walking by herself. "Excuse me! Hag!" "I'm not a hag, you twit!... What do you want?" She seemed upset. He could care less. "Could you tell me the magical spice used for curing premature ejaculation? My boyfriend," he blurted. "Say no more, say no more. I'm not stranger to that problem. I've used it many a time to help myself. You're looking for essence of back pimple," she said matter-of-factly. "No, I don't think that's quite right. I've always used something else but I just can't remember its name right now…" Kyle seemed flustered. "Oh, then you want the store brand, Miracle Mayonnaise," she cackled. Kyle corrected himself once he realised the face he was making. She seemed uninterested. "Thank you, then, madam. I'll go buy that then. My boyfriend and I thank you." He began to run away when she called after him, "make sure you get the extra strength for a better night of passion!" "Thank you!" He ran faster. He didn't want to buy the ingredient anymore. He wasn't going to feed the love of his life pimple juice. He ran back to his cottage to begin the stew.

As the concoction was reaching a boil, he started cleaning, going through a checklist in his head. As he bent down to clear a pile of dust, two hands appeared in front of his eyes. He aggressively kicked behind him until he heard a thud and the hands were released. He went to grab the fireplace poker before he realised what he was looking at. Reggie had grown his hair out since he went to greet the Princess. Kyle had realised his error and grabbed Reggie by his waist, hoisted him off the ground, and stared him in the yes. "Reggie! Don't ever do that to me again!" Kyle threw the poker at the ground and slammed his face to Reggie's. Their heads rotated back and forth for several minutes before Reggie pulled away. "Kyle, I'm sorry. I don't mean to break the moment but, do I smell what I think I smell?" Kyle grinned. He knew he did well. "Why yes it is, Rege. Why don't you go clean up and I'll serve it." Reggie looked at the boiled cauldron, looked back at Kyle, and kissed him so hard that Kyle was thrown off balance and nearly fell on the nearby table. "Rege, save it for later. You need to eat," Kyle giggled. Reggie walked off saying back "well, what the hell do you think I was trying to do?" Kyle's mouth hung agape. He'd never heard Reggie be so forward before. He brushed it off and headed to prepare Reggie his homecoming feast.

Reggie came back to the kitchen and sat down in a raggedy cloth tunic. Kyle was puzzled. "Rege, why are you wearing such a ripped piece of clothing? I thought you had your fancy stuff still from your trip?" Reggie just laughed. "Do you think I'd really wear that nice stuff when I'm about to guzzle down this stew? I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the whole kitchen is destroyed once I'm done here," Reggie joked. Kyle stared at him. "Come on, Rege. I just cleaned. Can you keep it a little nice? For me?" "Yeah, okay. I was just jokin' with you, Kyle."

Throughout dinner, Kyle was trying to ask Reggie what his trip was like. Reggie was too preoccupied with eating a real meal as opposed to the instant mutton he was forced to choke down. Reggie finished eating after several helpings. Kyle looked up hopeful and wanted to start talking. Reggie put his hand up to Kyle's face and said "honey, you have done so much for me right now. I cannot express to you how much this means to me. We've been dating for a few months now, and I think it's time. Being apart from you for a week has made me realise how important you are to me," he paused. "Kyle, you mean the world to me. And, I want to share myself with you." Kyle just sat there, staring deep into Reggie's eyes. Had Reggie asked before he left, Kyle didn't think he would have said yes. But, as he continued gazing into Reggie's soul, he felt the same way. Nothing seemed more right than Reggie and he didn't want to know anything else. "Reggie," Kyle started. "Listen, if you don't want to, or aren't ready, or anything. That's fine. I'll wait as long as you want. You mean everything to me and I don't want to rush. I want you to be comfortable no matter over all else. I just want you to know how much you mean to me and I don't know how else to express it." Kyle looked down and smiled. "Hey, Rege?" "Yeah?" "Do you mind if I top?" Reggie started laughing hysterically. "Oh honey, do you really think I'd top you?" They both started laughing.