Another holiday alone? Maybe not.

CHAPTER 3

Another holiday alone? Maybe not.

Well today is Christmas Eve. I went to Ralph's tonight, to get my Christmas dinner ready. Again I won't be spending time with my family, because of that darn rift between my Father and myself. Having a secret daughter in the Philippines really puts a damper on the Christmas spirit.

As with Thanksgiving, I got my usual turkey dinners. Javier the checkout guy luckily wasn't working. He embarrassed me before, I didn't think I could stand anymore. But as always with my luck, I'm in the toilet tissue aisle picking out the softest one, and I see Javier pass the aisle I'm in.

I had hoped he didn't see me, but then I see his head pop out from the side and he smiles at me.

"Diapers are in another aisle" he said. Didn't he know this little joke has been played out? I just gave a fake laugh, and starting walking in the opposite direction. Please God, make him leave me alone. Javier followed me down the aisle.

"You're sensitive, aren't you?" he asked.

"About what?" I said. God hates me. I know he does.

"I was kidding about those diapers, guy"

"Oh I know" I faked laughed again, and kept walking down the aisle.

"So do you only come here, when you know I'm working?" He asked. What the fuck is going on? I got nervous. That nervous feeling you get when you think someone is finding out your secret. Mine being I'm gay. Although that's not really a secret. But to have someone confront you, when you are not prepared makes you a little unbalanced. I was pissed that he was doing this to me, so I let him have it with......

"What?" That's all I could come up with. My armpits were beginning to sweat.

"I'm just kidding. Doing a little Christmas dinner shopping?" He said looking into my basket ( my grocery basket, not the gay term for crotch). Wasn't that illegal or something, or rude? I answered with "Yes" and "No's" to his questions. Would he get the hint? I think not, because he kept on talking.

" I'm from the East Coast. My family lives there." We were now rounding the corner and entering another aisle. He kept talking. I think about the East Coast. But all I heard was "blah, blah,blah,blah". Almost like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons. I was so nervous. I needed this to end. So I mustered up the courage and just spit my words out.

" I'm gay." I said. He stopped talking, and just looked at me. Then slowly he started to get a grin on his face. Then he said,

" I was hoping you were guy. Why do you think I've been trying to keep up with you for two aisles? Damn dude, you walk fast." This has become really awkward now. We stood there in silence for what should of been twenty minutes, but was actually probably twenty seconds. I finally asked,

"So why are you following me?" He gave me a sheepish "aww shucks" kind of face.

" I was hoping we could maybe go out sometime. Maybe. If you'd like too. That is."

" Sure." I said with hardly any emotion.

" Cool" he replied. We stood for another twenty minutes/seconds. This time he broke the silence.

" Okay then, I guess I'll see you." I shrugged at this. He turned and starting walking away from me. He never asked for my number, and now I was too embarrassed for being such an ASS to ask for his. I guess I'll have to go to the Ralph's on Ventura blvd. now.

I began to turn yet another aisle, when I heard shuffling feet behind me. It was Javier.

" Hey guy, I forgot to give you my number"

" Oh yeah" I said, pretending I didn't notice. I'm such an ASS.

" By the way, my names Javier" He pointed to his name tag as he said it. I gave him my name too. We shook hands. He had a nice grip. Which I like.

" You know guy, if you really don't want to go out, I'll understand." Damn, I AM an ASS.

" No, No" I said, as I touched his shoulder. I have to talk, don't be so God Damn shy.

" I do want to go out. I just get nervous" See, I'm talking.

" No problem guy, I understand. Give me a call, okay?" He said as he walked down the aisle. This was actually going good until I said,

" Thank you!" I'm an idiot.

I went to the checkout stand with my groceries when I knew that Javier wasn't nearby. I didn't want to have another conversation with him. I know, I know, I'm a freak. But an attractive one, because Javier is hot!! Hey I just had a thought. He assumed I didn't have a boyfriend. Which is right. But still, man. Don't I look like I have a boyfriend? Ahh shut the fuck up, and call the guy will ya?

A magical night at the mountain