On Saturdays I played soccer in the park, and it was the one time I forgot about how my daily life had become, and I felt like my old self, the young ...and optimistic Ray who moved to NYC with his buddy Carlos, back when we both had jobs. Carlos and I had been buddies in high school and it was his idea to move to the city. He had a cousin who was the maintenance manager of a big office building and he said he could get us jobs. We were basically janitors, but we also go to fix stuff, which was. It was that slow and low. Once more around, Dad's voice said, "Landing, this time. Guns, deploy. Scout crew, get ready."We came around and touched down gently, landing in a short space. I could tell it was Mom Janice flying because she liked to get the plane down and slowed once she made that decision. She left the runway and taxied toward the terminal building complex. She had already cut two engines. Her voice said, "Scout Crew, you are go!" The remaining shackles were unfastened as the ramp. Barry was smiling and I saw that he had undressed right down to his white boxer shorts. I drew in my breath sharply. It seemed like a long time since we had been together and he had not wasted it. If anything, his arms and chest were even more muscular, his waist even slimmer, his leg muscles even more well defined. His skin was bronzed, almost golden. I ached for him. I dropped my eye liner on the marble top and, watching Barry in the mirror, felt his hands lightly hold my upper arms. I saw. " True." she sipped some espresso and said, "Early next spring, then."I smiled and nodded. I had to push a little because I knew she wouldprocrastinate forever. She wanted to marry me, however, she was alsoperfectly happy with the status quo, but I wasn't. If I didn't think shewas willing to move forward with me, I wouldn't push, but I knew shedid. I'd always thought of myself as "mature for my age," or "aromantic." Even when I was in elementary school I'd have play marriages.I just liked the.