Tadzio

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I would have ended the movie differently. The man walks to the boy, in the sea, then has his stroke. The boy tries to help him.The man dies before he even falls, knee deep in water.

I did see the most beautiful boy in the world. He was working in a Carl’s Jr across from a store I was working at in Tustin. He was sad knowing that I was leaving to run a store in Newport Beach. I told him he needn’t worry that I could spend more time with him there as I’m going to run the place and my staff is much larger there. It was at that moment I knew we were meant for each other. He did in fact go to visit me there, but alas I was out on an errand.( probably scrounging for pennies as I could only get 2 rolls at a time when I made my deposits. There was a severe penny shortage probably in large part due to the fact that the treasury was no longer going to make them out of copper anymore, so people were hoarding them. I was even reduced to giving out bubble gum instead of pennies at one point.) One of my staff said, You missed a visitor and I’m not gay but that guy was the most beautiful boy I’ve ever seen in my life.” “You met my friend, Darrel “I said.(don’t even remember how its spelled let alone his last name) “How the hell did you know his name?”he said. “Buy the accurate description, of coarse.” I replied. Another employee was having difficulty I knew the look and the movements. I remember overhearing boys talking with each other saying they were in trouble by the fact they were attracted to me. I gave him a wink and said we could have a grand old time and that wouldn’t make you gay.Before he got any ideas I told him I could take care of his problem but I was not going to be the one but he would enjoy what I provide. I told his cute buddy basically he needed some good old fashion buddy loving. They both thanked me separately. When I saw them together I said ” All right boys, who’s going to set the record straight?” They laughed. I said “Well” with my arms out. One of the guys kissed me and then the other.I said, “What about you guys, each other?”We’re straight,” they said echoing each other. I miss those times before the advent of AIDS. A lot of guys referred to it as “getting your kink on.” as code for straight guys having gay sex. I remember a cute boy of about 15 serenading me with “YMCA” Village People hit at the time. Calling someone a fag or even gay was really passe at the time, even gauche. I even had mothers bring in their sons who were coming out, or who wanted to “experiment.”The times then were very different, especially in conservative Newport Beach, Ca. I never seen or heard of Darell ever since. But sure as hell this boy came to my door asking for one of my friends who was a real stunner. I told him,” Any friend of David is a friend of mine,” which apparently broke the ice quite nicely as he kept asking about me to my friends ” If he asks about me in that way again just tell him my “future boy friend.” They all laughed and said “good answer,” as one of the girls said there was “definitely was a spark that needed to be ignited.” Never saw that boy again. My brother had this friend who I met at the train station. He was on his way to set up his dorm in UCLA. My brother says “Brian keeps asking about you.” There was a spark that I failed to ignite as well. What is “straight?” Just thought I would share the memories of bygone times which I wish were still here. When straight buddies did each other and talked about openly and with pride.