One day at a time.....

One day last week, my young man was waiting at the door to my office as I arrived. Surprised that he was at work earlier than usual, he said "I wanted to spend some time with you before work today." What a wonderful way to start the day!

Actually, Friday the 13th did not start well at all. I had not slept well the night before and still half asleep, I rushed into the shower. Still sleepy, I began shaving as the PUGS ran into the bathroom and started pushing their wet cold noses against my legs wanting to go out. Startled, my hand went up and the razor nicked my ear. OUGH! I finished shaving washed my face, applied after shave, dressed and rushed to take the dogs out without a second glance in the mirror.

On my way to work, I stopped at a nearby gas station and went inside for coffee. While making coffee, an EMT who had also stopped for coffee approached me, excused herself and informed me that the right side of my face was covered in blood.

I found the closest mirror at the sunglasses display rack and seeing the blood, realized that the "nick" to my ear was not just an "OUCH" nick. The men's room was occupied and the nearest I could get to water was ice cubes and a napkin. I washed the dry blood from my face, thanked the EMT and informed her that there would be no need for the ambulance she was driving. I quietly told her that the medication I am taking is a blood thinner which could be why the bleeding had been so extensive, and proceeded on my way to work.

I thought nothing more of it and didn't mention the incident to my fellow workers. During morning break, my young man ((( whose real name is Al ))) noticed a spot of dry blood on my ear and without a word, went inside; coming back with an alcohol pad. "Your ear is bleeding" he whispered, and in front of my speechless friends and co-workers began cleaning the blood from me ear. All I could think to say was "OUCH" over and over again as the alcohol began stinging.

My friends were by now laughing when I began scolding Al.... "you're touching blood, you should know better than to touch blood without latex gloves on"! Sssssssshhhh, was all he would say. We would discuss this later, in private.

At twenty-seven years old, this young man is loving, caring, polite and sensitive beyond his years. At the same time he is wise to the streets, having been born and raised in the ghetto neighborhoods of South St. Petersburg.

As a young gay black male, Al is as comfortable socializing with the management staff of my company as he is with his straight Hip Hop brothers; many of whom work in the plant and understand there is a "something happening" between us. No one seems to care; as I've written in earlier posts this company is very gay friendly with a strong Rainbow Coalition.

Al does not only work as a temp for my company five days per week, he also works weekends in the Hospice ward of a local hospital on weekends; a strong work ethic, I am impressed.

Where this relationship is going remains uncertain. Al's temporary assignment with my company will end soon. I'm so wrapped up in the flirting, I'm hesitant to carry it to a higher level. One of my female staff told me this week that we need to leave work early one afternoon, get a motel room and "get it done"!

I laughed.....