Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The City - chapter eight

On Tyler ’s last night in New Jersey , Franz and Leon took him to one of the area’s numerous Italian restaurants.  It was four months ago that Tyler arrived on their doorstep, heartbroken and unemployed.  After two months of working in the city and commuting with them every morning he’s taking the big plunge and moving into his own pad in Brooklyn . Laughter and memories flowed before the check came and everyone stared at it. 

The next day, after Tyler walked Nairobi one last time, the boys packed up the SUV and drove Tyler into the City. 

Frederico began a new health food diet.  He stopped eating meat and cut out complex carbohydrates, all to get ready for swimsuit season.

Later in the week at their kick boxing class, Todd overheard Martin agree to find some pot for Leon .  He promptly went to the gym’s management and reported that Martin was dealing drugs in the locker room. 

Unbeknownst to him that Martin had been kicked out of the gym and his membership revoked, Leon went the gym every night looking for him.  Finally, on Friday Todd told him what happened to Martin, adding “you’re lucky I don’t turn you in too.”  Flummoxed, Leon called Spaz from his commuter train trip back to Jersey telling her to look elsewhere for her mother’s fix.

Disappointed that her mother’s retirement party would be a sober one, Spaz made a run to Target and bought some cute little loaf tins and baked a dozen zucchini breads.

Back in Chelsea , Helmut found a job with a small architectural firm.  The pay was low, but they did agree to sponsor his work visa. 

Tyler and Omar attended a birthday party for Nina at a bowling alley in Harlem .  Newly divorced and looking to have fun, Nina was a ball of energy in the lanes.  Omar on the other hand was too self conscious to let anyone see him lug a ball and Tyler was exhausted from his move.  But they managed to have a good time leaning against the wall critiquing everyone’s technique.

What does the City have in store next for our heroes?  Stay tuned.

Based on actual situations, names and associations may have been altered to protect the guilty or to make things seem more interesting.

Posted by Tyrus at 01:22:16 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Sunday, March 18, 2007

The City - chapter seven

It was the weekend of the Black Party and Martin was eager to show off his new tattoo.  He took his leather pants to the tailor to be refit and put together a hot outfit.  At the all night dance partyhe spotted Todd hooking up with Bad News Tommy, which all but ruined the night for him.  He neglected to tell this to Frederico though.

Frederico was torn about going to the party.  Wanting to be carefree, yet not quite ready to let loose in front of Martin he couldn’t choose.  Finally he decided to skip the Black Party and instead went to Allegria Sunday night with Helmut, who was celebrating a new job with a small firm in the West Village.

In New Jersey, Franz and Leon cleaned up the house for a reappraisal by their bank.  All their hard renovation work in the bathroom (not to mention work in the kitchen one year ago) was about to pay off.   Meanwhile, Leon joined the same Manhattan gym where Martin takes his kick-boxing class. 

With paint brush in hand, Tyler began his own remodeling to get the Brooklyn apartment ready before moving in.  Omar helped on Sunday afternoon and the two managed to liberate a wall from an amateur shelving unit that was marring its beauty.

Greg enjoyed a week of relaxation in Mexico.  He travelled alone, but was seldom lonely.

What does the City have in store for our heroes?  Stay tuned.

Based on actual situations, names and associations may have been altered to protect the guilty or to make things seem more interesting.

Posted by Tyrus at 20:32:27 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Sunday, March 11, 2007

The City - chapter six

Franz and Leon made finishing touches to their bathroom remodeling project while Tyler solidified plans to move into his own place in the Brooklyn tenement Frederico and Martin call home. 

Kimmie called from Memphis to discuss with Franz a job offer she received from a competitor of his employer. 

Spaz pulled Leon aside to explain that the weed she was looking for was for her mother.  Nearing retirement the older woman wanted to imbibe in a few of the things that she poo-pooed in her youth.  Leon was relieved to know that Spaz wasn’t turning to the drug.  He was also a bit humored at the thought of her mother trying it.  He assured her he’d ask around.

Frederico bumped into Todd in Union Square.  Hurt by the abrupt end to what he saw as a building friendship, Todd asked Frederico directly what it was that caused him to be cut from their lives and not invited to Martin’s birthday party.  Frederico bought Todd a cup of coffee and recounted to him the night over a month ago when Todd showed up drunk to Frederico’s gallery opening.                                   

In Queens Adam re-signed his lease.  A heartbreaking decision, as he internalized the fact that he no longer lives in the heart of Manhattan’s theater district  Self doubt became solvent by the document he signed.  Are the best performances of his career behind him, or will the Queens lease be a new beginning?

What does the City have in store next for our heroes?  Stay tuned.

Based on actual situations, names and associations may have been altered to protect the guilty or to make things seem more interesting.

Posted by Tyrus at 20:46:39 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Saturday, March 3, 2007

The City - chapter five



Martin turned 30 with a brave shrug.  Leaving Bad News Tommy behind him, he found himself in a sane and secure space.  Frederico invited Tyler and Leon to join them for a birthday dinner at a tapas bar in the West Village.  Also present were Helmut the German architect and Frita the Filipina lesbian.

Todd, uninvited and presumably by coincidence, was dining in the same restaurant with an unnamed date.  Polite hellos were exchanged, but the awkwardness of his former friendship with Martin and Frederico was apparent.

In addition to his duties as the House Manager for a Broadway show, Adam was called to fill in for an ill singer at a tribute to Sondheim.

Ivan’s series of internet hookups continued.  He met a dancer on the Upper West Side.  His report is that the sex good, but the apartment wasn’t clean.

Franz learned that his father had terminal heart condition.  He took the bad news in stride and put in longer hours at the office.  He and Leon continued to show off their remodeling prowess.  Their friend Spaz came by and was impressed with their work in the bathroom. On her way out the door she shyly asked if anyone knew where she could score a quarter bag of ganja.  The shocked hosts said they’d look into it.

What does the City have in store next for our heroes?  Stay tuned.

Based on actual situations, names and associations may have been altered to protect the guilty or to make things seem more interesting.

Posted by Tyrus at 13:05:36 | Permalink | Comments (1) »