Around the waist [season 1, episode 9] —
Monday morning — on the way to the Pleasure Dome
Lou slept pretty much all the way back from Vancouver. Sitting next to him, in the plane, Guy took the opportunity to hold his hand under the blanket provided by the flight attendant. Then, since no one would notice and since Lou was such a sound sleeper, he slowly lifted his boyfriend's shirt — just a little — then he rubbed his soft belly for hours, feeling how much rounder and thicker it had grown... That was enough to make him smile. Keeping his eyes closed, the tall young man was so happy, as he fell asleep, he could almost purr like a tomcat.
Ryan was waiting for them at the airport, in Pleasance. He would drive them back to the Pleasure Dome. Waking up with a cup of hot coffee in his hands, Lou asked him how everyone was doing.
– “There was a letter for you in the mail, from the mayor's office.”
– “Bad news?”
– “I didn't open it, but... I guess. It's on your desk.”
– “Okay...”
– “Did something happen while we were in Vancouver?” Guy asked.
– “Nothing major. There was another article in the Press attacking the mayor and his administration for the way they communicated about the storm, before it happened and after it was gone.”
– “They're still holding him responsible for the damage?”
– “I guess...” Ryan nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. “They certainly don't claim that mayor Cochrane has been going after every local farm, home and warehouse around us with a wrecking ball...”
– “But he's been cutting the budget for some critical public services.”
– “And he's always putting down his critics with a sledgehammer.” Guy offered as a comment, knowing his father better than anyone.
– “It's just bad communication, at this point.”
– “Still quite venomous, I can imagine.”
Lou let out a sigh. He was such a congenial person, by nature, and this kind of on-going conflict made him feel bad for both parties — especially when he considered how his boyfriend may be involved in the aftermath of such a storm.
– “Bad Press is just bad Press, anyone can get over it. Now some people around Pleasance are ready to sue the mayor's office for misinformation, ignoring the warnings from the Coast Guards and issuing false weather predictions.”
– “Oh! of course, if they went that far...”
– “It couldn't be that bad. Can you picture mayor Cochrane taking hold of the weather map for the whole coast and have it redrawn?”
– “I doubt it...” Guy shrugged. “The only thing my father could ever draw is attention.”
Ryan put the windshield wipers on.
– “So the mayor is in a bad mood...” Lou wondered. “If the Press could keep him distracted like that, it may be good for us. We'll have to deal with him again at some point, anyway.”
– “Then we will... There's no need to worry about it now.”
Sitting in the back of the car, Guy looked at the fields and the hills, on their way back to the Pleasure Dome. He smiled again, secretely grateful for Ryan's laid-back attitude, knowing that he could always count on his “big bear brother” to protect him and their friends.
– “There's something else you should know...”
– “What is it?”
– “Austin and Hawk are going through a little lover's splat.”
– “Don't you mean to say a little lover's spat?”
– “I'm not sure. It may be closer to a split than a spat.”
– “Oh... What happened?”
Ryan told them about Austin's long week-end with Hawk, staying at his parents' place with a great number of his brothers and sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncles, aunts and cousins — and so much food for him to eat that he had come back home early, stressed and exhausted with his aching guts so distended, packed fuller than blood sausages and his stomach jutting out so much, stuffed to the size of a basketball...
Lou and Guy were just so puzzled about this as he was.
– “How is Austin doing now?”
– “Better, I guess... He's been sleeping a lot.”
– “Okay, that's good.”
– “He feels like he was lured into a trap. I don't know how it happened, but it does sound like Hawk's relatives kept pushing him to eat, eat and eat, more and more, until the poor boy could hardly breathe...”
Guy moved to the edge of his seat to reach out and hold Lou's hand.
As Ryan also told them how Hawk felt sorry about the whole incident, and how his sheepish explanations for his family's warm but strange and forceful welcome had failed to convince Austin, after such a bellyache for him and such a headache for the two of them — when he mentioned the traditions of the Iturritik and the Itsasorak, Lou and Guy couldn't help thinking about their own week-end of festive overeating in Vancouver.
– “There is something to be said about those ancient traditions...”
– “That's not for me to say.” Ryan mumbled. “I don't know a thing about the Iturritik and the Itsasorak.”
– “I should know a thing or two about them...” Guy laid back and closed his eyes. “But it's really ancient history for me. I was only vaguely aware of that ancestral rivalry between them.”
It may have been a simple misunderstanding... Hawk and Austin could get over it easily. Ryan suggested that they should be discrete about it, and let Austin tell share his thoughts with them when he would be ready.
– “Once again, communication is key.” Lou concluded. “Talk to the people you trust, keep an opened mind, listen and share with your friends.”
– “Tell me about it...”
■ ■ ■
Tuesday morning — at the gym
Doctor Tietsen-Nippels had the whole team of young men stand in line again, for their monthly check-ups with weigh-ins and measurements... She had every reasons to be pleased with the results she jotted down in her notebooks. Doctor Arranoah was also there for the third time to keep track of the progress that could be observed at the Pleasure Dome.
– “Well done, Austin! Someone must have been eating a lot, lately...”
– “I know I have!” The handsome black boy thumped his own belly with both hands and a broad smile on his face.
Right before breakfast, Austin was proudly weighed in at 326lbs... He had put on no less than sixteen pounds since the doctor's previous visit, and the tape measure confirmed it: at least two inches added around the waist and almost three inches at his widest midsection, just below his stomach. There was no doubt for his friends that he had put on most of that weight during their last week-end of “Gizentasunariko Oturuntza” — the “Fattening Feast” that was the local, seriously underrated equivalent of Thanksgiving around Pleasance.
– “Considering how tall you are, you have grown quite obese...”
– “Oh, well...” Austin kept rubbing his belly. “It's only the beginning.”
It was no secret that Lou was the doctor's personal favorite subject, or a close second behind Austin, at least. Standing on the scale in his tight underwear, the young Asian man looked deliciously smooth... and plump.
– “Oh my... Lou, I am impressed! 216lbs...”
– “Wow! really?” Compliments like these always made him blush.
– “You have almost put on twenty-two pounds, this month!”
Lou's eyes met Guy's, and they shared a knowing smile... The few days they had enjoyed together, visiting his aunt Maiana, had certainly proved to be time well spent.
– “You have really grown! That's three more inches around your belly.”
– “Well, I have been really well-fed lately...”
– “And since you are the shortest member of this team, at almost 5'6"...” Doctor Arranoah kept going around his waist, then around his thighs and calves. “That's right. You are now officialy obese!”
– “Like Austin?”
– “Hey! Certainly not like me...” Austin protested.
While he was just so happy as his friends for Lou's recent, magnificent progress, the younger man's smile was twisted into some sort of wry grin, with just a hint of jealousy. Lou had seriously “outgained” him, this time — and it showed, not only around the pale, handsome man's waist but in the looks and words of praise he deserved.
– “Come on, Austin...” Chris whispered, with a light pat on his cousin's back. “Share the wealth.”
– “Share this moment with us, at least.” Ryan added, softly.
– “Oh, well...”
Austin looked down. Round as he was, he shouldn't look petty when he outweighed Lou by more than a hundred pounds. Ryan had already told him how gracefully accepting defeat, temporary as it would always be, was the first step to outstanding success, and how his attitude should also show that he was the bigger man around the Pleasure Dome.
He couldn't help turning to his blond friend.
– “If I had spent the whole week-end with Hawk and his family, I would have put on more than twenty pounds too...”
– “Austin...” Ryan kept his voice low and soft. “You've told me that you were about to burst like a time bomb when you left their home.”
– “I thought they were going to keep stuffing me up to that point... Now I know that I could take it. I should have swallowed my pride, and my doubts, with all the food they were cooking for me during the night.”
– “If you say so...”
Ryan didn't argue with his friend but he remembered how shocked and shaken Austin was, when he had brought him home in the middle of the night... He trusted him, when he told him about that seemingly endless feast, that he had reached his limit — in hindsight, Austin could always claim that his stomach was actually ready for more... In Ryan's opinion, he shouldn't push himself so hard, just as he shouldn't be forced to keep gorging when he no longer felt like it.
Once again, however, Ryan kept his opinions to himself. Austin's mind was set, and he wouldn't listen to his advice anyway...
When Lou stepped down from the scales, the way Austin hugged him looked and felt quite genuine: he was happy for his friend's success, just as he was eager to provoke him into a challenge for their next weigh-ins. They laughed and shook hands over it.
– “I sincerely hope that you boys don't expect to put on twenty pounds every month...” Doctor Arranoah suggested, laughing along with them.
– “Well... Why not?” Austin asked.
– “You are both quite big, now.” The nutritionist explained. “In order to gain that much weight again, in such little time, you would have to be confined in a feeding pen or something.”
– “Oh, well...”
Austin and Lou looked away, like students caught cheating during an exam, but they also bumped fists behind their backs — hoping that the doctors wouldn't notice. There was no mystery about Lou's recent weight gain: spending a long week-end lying down in a recliner, surrounded with massive amounts of finger food and served rich, fattening meals every two hours was close enough to what doctor Arranoah suggested.
It was Guy's turn to step on the scales. Lou had not thought about his boyfriend's meals so much, focused as he was on the food he had to eat all day, but he could tell that the tall redhead young man had also been treated well by his aunt.
– “Wow... You're such a big boy, I didn't expect you to grow like this!”
Both doctor Tietsen-Nippels and his mentor looked delighted... Doctor Arranoah was actually whistling between his teeth.
– “Have I really put on so much weight?”
– “You have, definitely not just a little weight. 316lbs!”
– “That's almost eight pounds.”
– “You're only ten pounds behind your friend Austin...”
– “And exactly one hundred pounds heavier than Lou!”
Put into perspective like this, those numbers felt more significant. For a long time, Austin had considered his own weight as something factual and cold, almost meaningless — just a number among others, that was meant for his family doctor during his physical exams, every year or so. It didn't feel any more relevant than his height or his shoe size, as he was growing up.
He had never felt like much of a size queen either. Only when he had first laid eyes on Hawk — tall, thick, strong, strapping and mature Hawk, the perfect model according to his own cannon of healthy masculinity — Austin had completely changed his mind and taken a keen interest in weighing and measuring a grown male's physical attributes. Even more so in the case of a growing, growling male...
Needless to say, he also applauded Guy for his weight gain. The mere suggestion that he outweighed such a tall, athletic redhead lumberjack was enough to turn him on and make his heart race for a moment.
It also felt like a tough act to follow, but Ryan and Chris weren't such interesting “subjects” for doctor Tietsen-Nippels anyway... As a matter of fact, Ryan was followed more closely by her colleague, doctor Arranoah.
There was quite a difference between the two physicians, when it came to praise them as they got weighed in.
When Ryan stood on the scales, there was no comment on his massive but naturally athletic built. His friends got to see him almost naked every day... They were used to his broad shoulders, thick arms, tight hips and chiselled physique. Only his doctor almost hissed as he read his weight.
– “You have to be kidding...”
– “What's wrong?”
– “You've lost weight! This is unacceptable.”
Guy stepped forward. He would always he there to defend his “big bear brother”, when his mentor looked so disappointed.
– “Come on, Diego... Did Ryan really lose weight?”
– “He's down two pounds. That's not much, but it is still a step in the opposite direction of what I have planned for him!”
– “How much does it read?”
– “Only 218lbs. Ryan should be well over 220lbs, by now!”
The blond jock was blushing, but not the way his friends had blushed when it was their turn to get weighed in... Ryan looked sincerely sorry, and just so disappointed as Diego.
Austin felt just so bad for his friend. He joined Guy to apologize.
– “It's not Ryan's fault. This last week-end has not been good for him.”
– “What happened?”
– “Oh? Huh, well...” Austin looked away. “He just didn't get much sleep.”
– “I bet...” Diego mumbled, almost growling.
Ryan's reputation as a wild nocturnal animal was enough to make the doctor imagine the worst, most exhausting situations. There was nothing he could do about it, right now, so he shrugged it off and told him that they would start working on his diet as soon as possible. He had booked their next appointment in the afternoon, in the greenhouse.
– “First things first, Ryan... Have a meatball sandwich!”
Diego opened his bag and unwrapped a sandwich he had prepared for him — his special, secret recipe for the project he was working on... It looked healthy and balanced but solid like a brick, almost as long and thick as his forearm.
Ryan didn't need to be told twice. His friends were impatient for their breakfast but they couldn't deny that this blond cook was the one who looked truly hungry, so early in the morning.
■ ■ ■
Tuesday morning — in the kitchen
Austin didn't agree with their doctor's comment about them putting on some “winter weight”... He was proud to be the heaviest member of the team and he wished to stay well ahead of his friends, if there was a race to the scales. He wouldn't run for it, of course — then he had to be there before everyone else.
– “I didn't put on weight like you put on a coat. It's not just a layer of fat under my skin. It's an important part of me, not something my body will ever feel the need to shed when spring and summer come.”
– “Anyone can see it.” Chris rubbed his cousin's belly. “You want to stay hot in all seasons...”
– “That's right.”
And he started eating, grabbing the first plate within his reach.
– “Austin is right...” Lou nodded. “It also takes some effort on my part to gain weight. I can't even take full credit for it, when it means so much hard work for Guy and Ryan, and a lot of rich food cooked to perfection to make me grow just a bit thicker and rounder...”
Ryan kept the pancakes coming. It was so sunny outside... When Guy served more hot coffee on the table, Chris suggested that they moved the breakfast party to the coffee corner by the bow windows, next to the dining hall. He had read about mayor Cochrane's latest incident with the Press, in the newspaper, and he was curious to see it on TV.
– “What kind of incident is it, this time?” Guy asked, concerned.
– “Nothing new when it comes to your old man, really. I doubt the Press can teach him a lesson. It would be like teaching an old fox new tricks.”
– “What's new, then?”
– “He's hired this new spokesperson to deal with the situation.”
Austin sat down on the couch, with a plate in each hand.
– “What did you expect? Of course, mayor Cochrane's response is not to take responsibility, for any kind of storm...”
– “Who is that spokesperson?”
– “She must be barely thirty. Short girl with long, blond hair, looks like Lisa Kudrow. Only dumber.”
– “Who's Lisa Kudrow?” Lou asked.
– “Dude! Friends.”
– “Whose friend?”
– “The TV show. It's a sitcom. It's huge!”
– “Oh! I remember. I don't know... I've only seen a few episodes, maybe season one. I didn't really care for it.”
– “You don't like the show?”
– “It was okay. I mean... What's so funny about your roommates saying the word “nipple” every five minutes?”
– “I'm with Lou on that one.” Guy nodded. “It had to be one of the few titillating words the censors would let them say on the set.”
– “And they milked it like dairy farm...”
– “Oh, look! She's on TV right now.”
– “Who is?”
– “That blonde bimbo who's working for your father now.”
Guy turned to look at the screen.
– “Wait! I know her.”
– “You do?”
– “Of course! That “bimbo” and I went to the same school... I was best friends with her younger sister Carol.”
– “Oh...”
– “Is she really so dumb as she look, or is it just an act?”
– “Don't let her attitude fool you. She's not dumb.”
On TV, a blonde woman in a tight, grey “working girl” costume stood in front of the cameras, reacting with wide doe eyes and a frozen smile to a crowd of journalists but obviously doing her best to avoid any important question or any form of criticism — “Once again”, she flashed them a big grin. “The Press creates its own narrative to attack our policies and our administration... Whatever you read into what mayor Cochrane said, it gets distorted so much that nothing makes sense. Everyone should take our declarations with an open eye”.
Chris nodded again.
– “She's good, I'll give her that. I didn't know that I could read anything with my eyes closed.”
– “I have to say... She really does look dumb.”
– “If that's an act, she's really good.”
– “What do you know, your big sister can act...”
– “Well, enough of that sister act.”
Lou never enjoyed talking about mayor Cochrane, or his plans to put them out of business and force them to leave Pleasance.
– “What's her name, Carol?”
– “No, that's her sister.” Guy grabbed another cookie. “This is Karen.”
– “Karen Leavett...”
– “Lovett.”
– “Is it Lovett or Leavett?”
– “With my father setting the rules in Pleasance, it really is “Love it or leave it”. It should be “Get over it”, if you ask me...”
■ ■ ■
Tuesday afternoon — in the greenhouse
Everyone at the Pleasure Dome agreed that doctor Arranoah's attitude toward Ryan was strictly professional — to the point of looking stern and severe... The way he monitored his “subject's progress” felt cold, during their monthly group weigh-ins. He also coached him at the gym like a professional trainer, with strict instructions, a tough posture and harsh words when Ryan didn't meet his expectations.
And he had not been able to meet the doctor's expectations, so far.
As soon as they were alone together, working on the other side of their project, everything changed... The greenhouse felt like a “safe space”, a warm new environment for Ryan, who took care of the strange plants they kept in there. He would listen to Diego, just as he listened to all his friends, but this was something they shared and no one else seemed to care about. It felt secret, and personal... The man in the open lab coat spoke to him softly, quietly, and his blue eyes sparkled with such natural kindness that the dumb blond “test subject” secretly swooned.
Diego told him about his on-going research on Cryptophyta Pachyntika Megalophagia, that vegetal endemic Arctic organism that was supposed to be extremely rich in protein and meant to promote the most effective storage of associated, densely packed nutrients.
– “Cryptophyta Pachyntika Megalophagia... What a mouthful!”
– “That's why I only refer to it as “CPM” in my notes.”
– “There must be a better name you can come up with...”
– “I'll think about it. Now, it's time for your real check-up!”
While his colleague doctor Tietsen-Nippels spent almost an hour with every member of the staff, focusing on the psychological, sensual and sexual consequences of the progress made at the Pleasure Dome in her interviews, doctor Arranoah's interests were simple, physical. He took his time to carefully take Ryan's stats with his tape measure.
– “Wrists: 6.5"... Okay.”
Diego made Ryan breathe in and out, flex and rest. He would read it out loud, and write it down in his notepad — neck: 16", shoulders: 54", chest: 48.5", arms: 17" (at rest) and 18.5" (flexed), forearms: 12.5", belly: 33", waist: 34", hips: 38", quads: 26", calves: 17", ankles: 9.5".
The doctor let out an angry, almost ominous grunt.
– “You're too lean, Ryan! Too thin. You're almost... puny.”
– “Is it really that bad?”
– “Let's face it. Your bones are frail. Your muscle mass is fine, but it's all nerves and sinews... There's clearly not enough meat on your frame! It's no wonder that you get so sickly, feverish and feeble when the chips are down. Being so trim leaves you totally helpless, exposed and weak...”
Ryan didn't feel too healthy, as he listened to him.
– “I'm still hungry after breakfast...”
– “Forget about breakfast. Just no more fasting for you! I don't want you to break it... I want you to smash it, Ryan. You will eat, eat and eat. No more hunger! Kill it in the bud, and fast...”
– “I guess you meant to say quick?”
– “Quicker that quicksilver.”
– “Okay... So I should really gain weight?”
– “A massive amount of weight!”
– “Deal.”
– “Good deal. Have another meatball sandwich, for starters!”
■ ■ ■
Wednesday morning — in the coffee corner, next to the dining hall
Austin was sitting on the couch, with his shirt opened to the last button and a plate of pancakes in each hand. Today's breakfast wasn't enough to fully satisfy him, so he asked for another round of cupcakes, pancakes and buttery croissants with his chocolate milk... He didn't want to drink too much coffee when he was waiting for his boyfriend to join him.
He was still moping over the little things that had gone wrong, during their week-end with Hawk's family. Austin had eaten way too much, from early breakfast to late night desserts — to the point of freaking out and leaving their home in the middle of the night... He had not spoken about it to anyone, but he was reconsidering what had happened around him.
As a Southern boy, born and raised in Texas, he could understand how his boyfriend's parents would want to treat him with a really large meal. He was more than ready for this! And Hawk's cousins weren't shooting at empty beer bottles and tin cans on a fence with a Red Ryder BB gun...
Austin was slowly coming to the conclusion that everything may have taken a much worse turn for him, in another household. He was anxious before he had even met Hawk's family, and he did feel welcome there... What was wrong with him if he couldn't even enjoy himself, when they only encouraged him to eat and misbehave — just as his closest friends did, at the Pleasure Dome?
Ryan came back from the kitchen, carring two more plates for Austin, tall stacks of pancakes topped with butter, another bottle of maple syrup and a large pitcher of his most refreshing lemonade.
– “Didn't you expect Hawk to be here sooner?”
– “I don't know what to expect anymore, you know.”
– “Well...” Ryan looked a little embarrassed. “There's food to keep you busy while you're waiting?”
– “There's that... You know I can't wait for your pancakes.”
Austin was already going through the first one with his fork, when Ryan spotted Hawk walking uphill to the terrace. It looked like the tall, strong Canadian Coast guard wasn't in a good mood, but sad rather than angry, for some reason — whatever it was.
– “Hey, boys.”
– “Hello, Hawk.”
– “Wow! Austin, you're still eating breakfast?”
– “I'm just eating... Breakfast may be over, I'm not.”
It wasn't lost on Ryan that Hawk's deep sigh had nothing to do with his greedy boyfriend's attitude.
– “Is there something wrong we should know?”
– “Why should there be anything wrong?”
– “Because...” Ryan insisted. “It looks that way.”
– “Oh, well! you're right. Bad news. That's why I'm late.”
– “Okay, spill it...” Austin poured more maple syrup on his pancakes. “I sure don't want to spill any of this.”
– “I may lose my job.”
Austin had to ask Ryan to help him get up from the couch, but he was there to hold his boyfriend in a warm, tight hug.
– “What's going on?”
– “Budget cuts, and worse... I don't know. Mayor Cochrane is going after the Coast guards like a raving maniac with an axe, after the storm that's caused so much damage.”
– “We all know he couldn't care less about it.”
– “Well...” Ryan slowly shook his head. “There's the damage it's done to his public image. That's what he cares about, and when you take a look at the news...”
– “Officially, I will be on paid leave, starting next monday, possibly on unpaid leave in a month. There may be an investigation by some special commitee, appointed by the mayor's office.”
– “What do they wish to investigate?”
– “I have no idea...”
Ryan was still listening, with his arms crossed.
– “Whatever they want, you need to be ready to fight back.”
– “I agree...” Austin kept Hawk in a comforting hug.
– “Is it too soon for you to fight?”
– “Oh! I don't know. I guess.”
Austin didn't want to dwell on it... Picking up a fight with his boyfriend, even standing by his side in this instance, was the last thing he needed.
– “First things first.” Hawk mumbled. “I need to call my parents.”
– “Of course, you want to tell them about it.”
– “I need to tell them about us.”
– “What do you mean?”
– “They're sorry about what happened. The asked me how they could set things straight.”
– “Set things straight with your gay boyfriend...”
– “That's right.” Hawk chuckled. “I thought, maybe we could invite them for dinner, tomorrow?”
– “Here, at the Pleasure Dome?”
– “Sounds good to me...” Ryan nodded.
They saw Guy standing by the door, with a pair of towels.
– “Time to go back to the gym, you lazy bear!”
Ryan joined his friend for their morning work-out.
– “I agree with your plan...” Austin smiled. “We can ask Ryan to cook a great meal for your parents. Besides, it's always good to play the second leg at home.”
– “You think we already have a leg up there.”
– “At the Pleasure Dome? More like two legs up!”
■ ■ ■
Sunday morning — in the kitchen
Chris almost stormed in, holding an opened letter in his hand.
– “Great news, boys! Big Daddy is coming.”
– “Big... Daddy...” Ryan repeated, in disbelief.
Guy looked just so surprised, standing next to him by the sink.
– “Your father is coming?”
– “I can't believe I know a guy who calls his father “Big Daddy”. I guess it's an American thing...” Lou slowly shook his head.
– “No, no... Guys! That's my friend's name. From College.”
– “You have a friend you used to call “Big Daddy”? No way...”
– “Who was he, the president of your Jazz club?”
Chris sat down, putting his friend's letter on the kitchen table.
– “That's not a nickname... That's his name.”
Austin looked up, still eating from his basket of chocolate muffins.
– “Wait. Are we talking about Awad Manṣūr Hakeem al-Bighdadi?”
– “The one and only! your old pen pal from Qatar.”
– “He's not old. He must be four years younger than you.”
– “But you haven't seen him in a long time.”
– “Of course not.” Austin shrugged. “He was an exchange student... His father and my dad were good friends. He lived with us for a few weeks.”
Lou was still puzzled.
– “So, neither of you ever called him “Big Daddy”... I hope.”
– “No! I called him Awad, of course.”
– “How long did he tell you he would stay with us?”
– “He didn't say, and I don't care. He's a great guy.”
– “You had to be good friends, back then.”
– “We were...” Austin cut two more slices of lemon meringue pie for Lou and him. “But he didn't get to meet so many of our friends. There was a bodyguard behind his back at all times, following him everywhere like a shadow. I bet he can't go anywhere alone, even now...”
– “I have no doubt.”
– “Why would he need a bodyguard like that?”
– “Oh! I didn't tell you?” Chris teased his friends. “He's a prince.”
– “A prince? You mean... a real prince, like royalty?”
– “Nothing so inbred as the British, but yes.”
– “I can assure you, guys...” Austin grabbed a larger bite. “Inbred or not, that boy has a lot of bread.”
– “Oh, well...” Guy let out a sigh. “It's never so easy, being born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”
Ryan was still washing the dishes with him.
– “It would be even more painful for your mother, being born with a silver spoon in your mouth...” He thought out loud. “Like bringing forceps to your own delivery.”
– “Good move to come to this world, for sure!” Guy rolled his eyes at his friend's comment. “Being a pain in the ass.”
– “I couldn't care less if it's a plastic spoon...” Austin mumbled. “As long as you bring more pudding to my mouth.”
He was almost done with his gargantuan breakfast.
– “How did you get news like this? Did you give him a call?”
– “You may be too lazy to write or answer a letter...” Chris winked at his cousin. “But I'm not.”
– “Then this prince Awad was your pen pal.” Lou commented.
– “Come on...” Austin grabbed another cherry pie, with both hands. “You guys were just friends for a week-end or two.”
– “If late puberty has been kind to him, he can be my very good friend for a few weeks.”
– “What do you know... I never noticed that you had a crush on our little prince from the Arabian Nights?”
– “Please! he was cute. And, for the record, he had a crush on me.”
– “Sure, whatever.”
Lou was feeling really stuffed, after he had valiantly followed Austin's moves, sitting by his side and trying to go plate for plate with him to match his gluttony. His young friend was also stuffed — he had already moved his chair away from the table twice, his belly still bumped against it and he was still eating... His stomach had to feel both like a bursting piñata and a bottomless pitt.
– “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP...” Austin proudly rubbed his belly with both hands again. “Ooof! That was a really deep one.”
Guy came to his boyfriend's rescue, with a few more gentle rubs.
– “This belly is also big and ripe.” He kissed him on the cheek, lowering his voice. “And ready to be plucked.”
– “So...” Lou asked. “This prince, your friend? It's Awad (عوّاد), like...”
– “A wad of cash!” Chris smiled, with sparkling eyes.
■ ■ ■
Friday evening — in the dinner hall
With such a pleasant and colorful sunset over the lawn and the gardens of the Pleasure Dome, Hawk's parents could hardly be more delighted or even dazzled as they received a warm welcome from Austin's friends and they were invited to the most luxurious salon for a magnificent dinner.
It was one of those meals where Austin and Lou would sit down before 7PM, go through at least two dozen large plates piled high with rich food, and need help to get up when they couldn't possibly cram in another bite — no matter how hard they tried. Tonight was no competition, but Austin looked determined to show his boyfriend's parents what a good glutton he was... Clearly, he wouldn't stop eating before midnight.
Hawk was also waiting for the right moment to tell them about his job. For starters, they wanted to apologize to their son's boyfriend for what could be considered an unfortunate misunderstanding — but they didn't mind taking the blame for the whole incident.
His father summed it up quite well. His mother insisted on how happy they were that their “baby bear” had found the right person to love and be loved in return. She was so moved that Austin felt his heart melt.
“Back in Houston, my aunt Chloris could have shot their dog by mistake, and good luck to get her to apologize for it!” He couldn't help thinking.
At some point before dessert, Hawk finally told his parents that he may be under investigation by order of the mayor, and that he may even lose his job. They comforted him with a warm hug and a few kind words.
His mother suggested that he could take some time off work, then she invited Hawk and Austin to use their cabin in the Irentsi woods.
– “The Irentsi woods?” Austin asked.
– “Southwest of Pleasance. It's quite remote. It would be just the two of you, but that's exactly the peace and quiet you need right now.”
The young man turned to his boyfriend.
– “Just... how remote are we talking?”
– “Don't worry about a thing. It's a great place to lay back and relax.”
– “I guess I could go for it.”
On more than one occasion, Austin had jokingly admitted to Ryan that he wouldn't mind getting lost in the woods, if he was to cross paths with Hawk as the proverbial “big, bad wolf”...
It felt like the right thing to do now.
– “So there's no one around?”