"You worked on the pipe line?" The supervisor asked Blaine.
"Yes sir. I did some insulating. All
this spring. I'm in the union. Uncle Bob called and told me you were hiring, and I thought I'd take my
chances of coming to the city and
getting a good job."
"Ok, and uhhh...Most of the insulating we contract out, but I can start you off as a helper doing any number of things. Start you this morning -- but you'll have to lose that beard. Do you have any regulation if you have to wear any kinds of masks or beard --"
Blaine shook his head no.
Blaine shaves his beard, and in a shop the size of an airplane hanger. Dozens
of men are working. Blaine is cutting foam glass with a band saw. Now he has on a hard-hat, mask and reflective goggles.
"Yea, that's it. I think you got it." The man nearby teaching Blaine.
"This foam glass sure makes you
itch, don't it?"
Blaine is eating lunch with Uncle Bob.
"That foam glass is eatin' me up." Blaine said scratching his arm.
lighting a cigarette "It'll take the hide off you real quick. But it's a hell of a lot safer'n that asbestos they used to
use."
Blaine scratches as he peels a hard boiled egg.
As Uncle Bob gives Blaine a tour during the rest of their lunch hour. They both wear hardhats.
"Basically what them towers are doing is separating the various different products from the crude
oil itself. See them fires there
at the bottom? The oil is heated
and turns to steam, and it rises
and condenses at various levels and
different products come off the gasoline that is being distilled up at the top works just like a whiskey still all these components have different boiling points just like people " He grins at Blaine who nods as they walk.
It is Monday night, and Gilley's is not as crowded as it was before. The regular band is on the stage.
Sam is there, sitting, drinking with the girls and a couple of the regular guys. Johnny Lee is singing. And everybody's dancing.
He moves inside, looking around. He moves up to the bar and orders a bottle of Lone Star Beer. Sitting on the railing, listening to the music.
As Blaine gets his beer and moves around the bar. Blaine sees the gorgeous boy once again,who is with a group of girls.
As Blaine moves on down to the performing area through the
dancers. He stands listening. He looks back at kurt. Kurt looks up at him and grins.
He tips his bottle to his lips. This all happens, of course, through the dancing bodies. Finally Blaine gets
real close to him. As kurt comes to the bar tapping his on the shoulder.
"Are you a real cowboy?" The porcelain boy asked.
"That depends on what you think a
real cowboy is."
"Know how to two-step?"
"Yes"
"Wanna prove it?"
Blaine puts his beer in his hip pocket.
"I'm Blaine"
"I'm kurt"
They grin at each other. Blaine takes hold of his hair. Then kurt hooks his fingers through his belt loop. Blaine starts off. He is a very good dancer and so is kurt.
The band on the stage continues.
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh now now stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me
The things in gilley's that make it a lot of fun is the projections of the advertisements above their heads. The barbeque place. The pool tables. The music finally stops. The lights come up. Blaine and kurt are staring at each other, dying to be together. The dance has gotten them both very hot. People are leaving.
"Where do you live?" Blaine asked.
"With my mom and dad."
"Can I give you a ride home?"
"Sure. You got your own place?"
"Not yet. I'm hoping to get me
a trailer. Right now I'm staying
with my Aunt and Uncle."
"That's too bad -- what are you
driving?"
Blaine's truck is parked near the monument which is all lit up. The Radio is on. Blaine and kurt are in the back. Blaine is filthy, covered in dirt and oil. He is working on a pipe area. He is perspiring. He's with puck, one
of the Gilley's regulars.
"Here watch out, puck I got it hold it okay, whew!"Puck puts a cigarette between his lips.
A stranger yelling from ahead
"Hey! No smoking up there."
"I wasn't smoking! I don't have any
matches. This damn place is all
assholes and elbows " Blaine continues to work. He grins through the grime.
Blaine moves inside. He is really dirty. He doesn't feel quite right. He stands over the urinal. He tries to take a piss, but it obviously hurts. There were men showering in the background.
Uncle Bob is working up on some pipes on a platform above the ground. Blaine moves up and calls for him.
As norman, a long lanky cowboy, hits it hard and it makes a siren go off. Other cowboys and cowgirls gathered
around to watch the new toy in the club.
In the distance and there is the usual dancing. Blaine and kurt moves up as Norman sets up to hit again.
"When did this thing get here?"
"Cryer just put it in this afternoon.
Said it might cut down on the number of fights in this place. Give the cowboys something to hit beside each
other."
Blaine grins as Norman hits it again and the siren goes off again. kurt is very interested. So is Blaine. Norman does it again. Blaine puts a quarter in the slot and the bag falls down. He gets set and hits it. The siren goes off. Kurt squeals with excitement. Blaine hits it again. And again.
"Let me hit one, Blaine!"
"You'll hurt yourself."
"No, I won't give me a quarter."
Blaine puts a quarter into the machine. He gives him instructions and all the cowboys stand around watching as he hits the bag. It hurts and he skins his knuckles. He shakes
his hand and moves away from the light, tears in his eyes. Blaine follows him. Norman continues to hit the bag.
Blaine and kurt are sitting with puck and a girl he has picked up named Quinn. She is a tough little girl who
sometimes works as a waitress in a pool hall. Blaine is examining kurt's hand. His knuckles are skinned. Blaine is putting a napkin in water and washing the blood away.
"Now, I told you, you were going to hurt yourself."
Blaine takes kurt's hand and kisses it. He grimaces as Quinn asked Blaine a question.
"Is it broken?"
"Naw -- he couldn't move his fingers
if it was broken – I broke my hand
once in a beer joint fight in Oklahoma
City and you know when something's
broken -- you can't move anything –
It all swells up -- " He gave one last kiss on kurts hand. Then he looks off.
leaving the cafe, looking at him and smiling. Blaine stares at the boys. Kurt looks up and sees what he is looking at. Kurt gets jealous. He takes his hand away from him.
"Get out, go on." Kurt says trying to scoot out their booth.
"What are you doing?"
"I'll get somebody else to take me
home."
"I can't go around with my eyes
closed -- I just looked up and there
they were --"
The boys have moved outside and are staring at Blaine through the window. The boys are being kind of outrageous outside, looking through the window at Blaine.
