Tom Kenderson was walking for a neighborhood far away from the city center on the way to his home. There was no money for living in other way. All the luxuries and life savings as Red Sox player and writer, had been slowly disappearing like sugar in a cup of coffee. Writer...What an irony! Had long without writing really. Lately he just wrote on Facebook. His last work was in a drawer in his house prisoner of the dark, dusty and forgotten. To date, no one wanted to publish it for being too realistic and gritty. But from his point of view, that's life…!
Now Tom was in front of his laptop. Sipping a beer as his own life. First, a large sips to quench their thirst, and then slowly for fear finish. He had a lot of friends in his Facebook account. Some people he had not seen in his life and others that lived thousands of miles away in another state, in another country, on another continent…
—-
Diane had not yet arrived. Today Sam had come before her home. He did not want to spend more time at the bar. Had wanted to be alone with his wife, get some dinner anywhere, chat with her, to laugh, kiss her, perhaps making love. During the day he had tried to contact Diane, but he could not; so he decided to wait at home.
When Sam arrived , took a shower and changed his clothes. He was served a glass of cold lemonade and then sat in the lounge with his laptop on your knees. He was watching his Facebook profile, when suddenly it happened: a friend request. When reading that name, Sam paled :Tom Kenderson. Of course he accepted. In a private chat, he asked for his phone number and meet him somewhere.
Since January 83, he didn´t know nothing about him. In the past, they were always very close. From the time they played together on the Red Sox, until the last occasion, when Tom presented his book at 'Cheers' and he decided to go public his homosexuality, Sam always supported Tom and he thanked him. After then, their lives had discoursed separate. Upon learning that Tom also lived in LA, Sam invited him to stop by 'Home Run'. Sam was happy. Something that he was lost, it was going to recover the next day.
When Diane came home, he told her what happened. She was surprised at first as much as Sam. Diane was happy for him. She knew how much he appreciated to his friend Tom.
Next day Sam was behind the bar when suddenly he saw come on a tall man, broad-shouldered but with ramshackle and skinny body, with straight hair and gray and face furrowed by a thousand wrinkles.
The guy looked in all directions looking for someone. Suddenly he stared at Sam and smiled resolutely as he led his steps directly toward him. In a few seconds, the confusion of Sam turned into surprise and amazement, recognizing his old friend Tom by the brightness of his eyes, the rest could be anyone. Sam had to swallow hard to hide the negative impression that gave him the appearance of Tom after so long.
-My God, Tom! Is it really you? Good to see you !.
-Hi Sam! … It's good.
After shaking hands and give him a big hug, Sam invited Tom to his office to talk quietly and asked for Julia to carry something to drink. After settling in the comfortable chairs in the office, Sam started talking.
-It has been a long time since the last time we saw -Sam said.-
-Yes it's true, -Tom said-Thirty-one years, to be exact. How has been your life ?.
Sam told him briefly all the key events of his life in thirty-one years: his relationship with Diane, his return to drinking and subsequent rehabilitation, the death of Coach, his wedding, his move to LA, Samuel and his university career, his reconciliation with his father and Derek ...
-Well -said Sam- and you?, how have you been?.
Tom looked down with sad and serious countenance. Too many ghosts wanted to leave at once to the surface, leaving the bitter taste in his mouth when memories being evoked again.
-After the presentation of my book at Cheers I realized that was just beginning. At that time, homosexuality was still frowned upon. It was a long and difficult road that is not yet complete. For one, I lost lifelong friends as Dave Richards, who threw me out of his house almost kicked while, on the other hand, emerged new friends. My first book led to another, and another, and another …,
book I wrote was published, I was successful. The publishers were fighting over them. I won a lot of money.
-That's great,Tom -said Sam-.
-Yes, it was! -Tom said wistfully- But that all changed ten years later.
-Why? Sam asked.
-I went on a Caribbean cruise. In one of the ports where we stopped, I met a very handsome guy and tan ... What I will tell you?!
Tom had to stifle his laughter to see how Sam was squirming in his seat secretly -I think you get the picture!.
-Well, yes, -said Sam - What happened after?.
-A few weeks after that torrid night of passion, I discovered that the fruit of that had crystallized in AIDS.
-Do you have AIDS? ! Sam almost stands, with eyes wide, at the news.
-Yes and no -Tom said with quiet pause.-
-What do you mean? -Sam said nervously- AIDS has or does not have.!…
Tom looked with condescension and gratitude to Sam. He could see his old friend looked at him with eager real concern. For some time something like that didn´t happen in his life.
- I'm HIV positive- Tom said in grave and solemn tone-.
-What the hell does that mean? -Sam asked.
I have antibodies to the virus in the early phase within me, but lethargic, immersed in a deadly sleep. The day the virus becomes active in my body, my days are numbered.
Sam didn´t know what to say. Tom meant a lot to him. It was not only his friend and partner of baseball. When he was confronted with his father and brother, Tom was like a brother to him. Now Tom was facing him, scrawny, with tattered clothes and fingernails blackened with grime around the edges, saying he has AIDS…
-When people learned that he had AIDS, they began to move away from me. First occurred in the environment of my friends. All were excuses not to come home, go out for a drink or go to the movies. Then were the publishers. They didn´t want publish any of my works. In fact I have at home a book that I wrote at the time, and they all refused to publish. Finally, the family. My parents rejected me. They was told that had embarrassed them twice: when I announced that I was a dirty gay and with my disease of perverted fagot. Then my sister told me that she felt unable to stay with me, because, with my illness, feared her son would became ill.
-Susan? ! -Sam said surprised. Tom and Susan always had been united.
-Yes, Susan- corroborated Tom- . I got a couple of nephews unknown for me ... and I for them ... because I don´t exist …
At this point Tom's voice broke, but before Sam could say anything, he took heart of grace and continued with firm tone:
-When I realized I was alone, I decided to look for work. It was useless, when they learned that he had AIDS, I lost my job. That was when I moved here, at LA. I rented a small apartment in the suburbs, very cheap, and, since then, I live with my savings, the money I made in my heyday. End of story. -Tom initialed all with a forced smile, tinged with loneliness and despair.- Sam was speechless. He was slowly assimilating the story of his friend, his comrade. It was too bitter, rough and tough to swallow in a single bite.
-…So that thing is sleeping inside you ... -said Sam breaking an uncomfortable silence- Well... do not put the loud radio, lest it wakes up.
Tom laughed at the joke Sam. Then, Sam said:
-Seriously, Tom. you can not go on like. I'll try to help you. First of all, I will not forgive you left without saying anything. Second, if you try to escape again I will find you and kill you . Sam gave him a visiting card.
If you need anything, call me. Regarding your book, my wife is a writer and works in a publishing house, which is owned by my brother. Let me talk to them and see what I can do. For starters, come home for dinner tomorrow and we talk with Diane. And I warn you: I do not accept no for an answer.
Tom was puzzled. Was the first time in a long time that someone treated him as a person. He could not help and, standing up, hugged Sam. Sam returned his hug. At this moment, Julia came into the office with drinks. Seeing his boss hugged this guy, she dropped the tray with drinks, scaring the two friends.
But ...what do you do?! -Sam said startled- look what you've done!. You've left everything a mess.!
Sorry Sam. Now I clean and bring other drinks …
- Don´t worry Sam. I have to go now. Thanks. See you…
When Tom left, Sam turned to Julia.
What happened to you ?.
Nothing ... I ... -Julia said shyly- I see you hugging a man ...
Just a moment! -Sam said angrily- What are you thinking? Tom is just a friend, a good friend. Don´t think strange things. Understood ?.
- Yes Sam - Julia said again before leaving.
Will continue…