What Happens Next Page #3

All right, thank you.

Well, thanks, Uncle Paul.

I'll see you at

the birthday brunch,

if not sooner?

Okay.

[Knocking]

Auntie Roz, Auntie Roz!

Go get her!

Hey! Hi, Bean.

Are we drinking yet?

Grab a glass.

Oh... I am exhausted.

I just did seven laps

around the park.

- Do I look fat?

- No.

You didn't even look at me.

You're not fat.

- You always say that.

- Because you're not fat!

Hey, how did it go?

Did you deliver the copy?

The art director

rewrote every word

and now it sounds like sh*t.

And then she tells me,

"You did a fabulous job."

Ohh!

I walked out and reprogrammed

her number in my phone

to 'do not answer'.

Wait a second,

wait a second...

Isn't 'do not answer'

that other guy, cubby thumbs?

I hate that you pay attention.

Derrick.

But I'm abundantly certain

he will never call me again.

And you say that because?

Because I told him,

"Never call me again."

Hey, weren't you supposed

to get your hair done today?

Um... I cancelled.

I'm so busy

at the gallery, so...

Are you blacklisted

from the salon yet?

Oh my gosh! I just remembered!

I may have a guy for you.

No, seriously -

this new artist I just signed.

He's a little young,

but delicious.

How young is a little young?

I don't know -

late 20s, early 30s.

- No.

- Oh, come on!

Since when do you

care about age?

It's dick! Isn't that the goal?

No setups.

Nothing staged.

Deal...

To dick.

To dick.

Oh, sorry!

No!

Must be puppy love.

Yeah.

May I?

Uh, yeah. Certainly.

So, what's the hot news?

Oh, I haven't

the slightest idea.

Headline maybe, no?

Nope.

I'm so distracted by the birds

and the people and the trees,

I can't remember

a single word I've read.

I know what you mean.

Ah, it's beautiful here.

So are you new to the city?

I've lived on this park

for almost 30 years.

Wow!

Been building a business.

A few thousand mouths to feed.

Nursing vendors who would

cut out my liver for a nickel.

- Sounds consuming.

- Indeed!

It was my life.

Was?

Regrets?

It was a sacrifice.

I was good at it.

And it was good to me.

So no...

No regrets.

I'm a freelance copywriter.

Advertising agencies mostly,

but some editorial work

here and there.

Ah, creative type.

Yeah.

But I love writing,

so not really work for me.

Morning.

It is a glorious day.

Indeed.

They just cut the grass.

I always looked forward

to that smell as a kid.

Where were you raised?

We grew up in the suburbs.

Do you have any siblings?

Just my brother, Harvey.

Older? Younger?

He would be older.

He died almost 15 years ago.

Hard to believe.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Me too.

I adored my brother.

He was a really

beautiful person.

He was also gay.

Yeah, I, uh...

I suspected you were...

you know.

- Gay?

- Yes.

Two gay boys in one family.

My mother used to

call us double trouble.

You both knew?

Oh, absolutely.

Harvey took me

to my first gay club.

Do you think he

influenced you at all?

No, Paul.

One is not gay by influence.

I was always different.

I felt different...

It just took me

a little while to figure it out.

How about you -

you ever kissed a boy?

Me? No.

- Never?

- Never.

Well, I never kissed a boy...

but I guess a boy

in summer camp

tried to kiss me once.

Tried to kiss you?

I mean, he either

kissed you or he didn't.

I guess he kissed me.

Did you like it?

I punched him in the nose.

Ouch.

You punched your friend

in the nose?

Yes, and I'd do it again.

Are you sure about that?

Goodbye, Andy.

[Phone ringing]

Hello!

Ah, well, I'm glad you're alive.

I've been calling you for days.

And I left four messages

on your cell phone.

I don't even know

why you have one.

I mean, you never answer it,

which you know makes me crazy.

Hi, Elise. How are you?

Don't patronize me, Paul.

I'm concerned about you.

I don't know what you're doing,

I don't know where you are.

Well, you can always

call Claire and talk to her.

I don't want to talk to Claire.

I want to talk to you.

Okay, you have me now.

Talk.

Paulie, how are you?

How's the dog?

What have you been doing?

Absolutely nothing.

Isn't that great?

I walk the dog in the park,

I read the paper, I relax.

Oh, but you know what?

I saw Brian last week

and I have to tell you,

he looks great.

Brian is in town

and he didn't call me?

All right, I, I swear, I'm gonna

have a nervous breakdown.

- It was unexpected.

- You always say that.

You know, you called me.

Was there something

on your mind?

I saw Irene yesterday.

Such a lovely girl.

You think you might call her?

Yeah, I might.

So I'm really looking forward

to next Friday.

You know, we always have

such a good time at Sylvia's.

Oh. Yeah...

Uh, Sylvia's. Sure.

Paul, have you forgotten it?

Next Friday?

We're picking you up, okay?

- Okay.

- All right.

Hey, Paulie...

You please

stay in touch with me.

I will. I promise.

Good night, sis.

One of these days you'll have

to walk on your own, you know.

Good sissy, sissy...

Sissy, sissy.

[Phone ringing]

Hi. It's Andy.

Can't get to

the phone right now,

but leave me a message

and I'll get back to you

as soon as I can.

[Machine beeps]

Hi, Andy.

Are you there?

Okay... It's Derrick.

And I don't know if you

got my other messages,

but I was thinking that,

I don't know,

maybe we could just,

you know.

So call me, okay?

Come on, come here.

- Bye.

- Come on.

Come on.

What's the cap about?

Oh, it's PFLAG.

Are you familiar?

Afraid not.

Parent, Families, and Friends

of Lesbians and Gays.

That would be you.

I volunteer on Tuesday nights.

Oh, certainly.

I think it's very important

to be charitable.

Hmm, it's funny.

I never thought of it

as charity.

Yoo hoo!

Andrew!

Dear, where have you been?

Jasper, uh, this is Paul.

Oh, how nice.

Dear, did Roz tell you

I asked for you?

Uh, no.

Oh, then you

haven't seen her.

She started talking

to me about, I don't know,

en exhibit or something.

And I said,

"Dear, more importantly...

let's talk about your hair."

'Cause it looks like

a giant rat's nest.

I mean, you know,

then she got all snippy with me.

But whatever, I don't care.

So, Paul...

Jasper.

Don't you have somewhere

you need to be?

Oh...

Well, I certainly do.

I'll just let you two

get back to... whatever.

Good to see you, dear.

And to meet you, Paul.

Whatever, goodbye.

Well, I have to run.

Oh.

Don't worry,

I'll take care of it.

Thank you.

I, uh, really hate to rush off

like this, but...

I'll see you.

See you tomorrow?

Hi.

It's only 9:
30.

You're early.

I'm usually here by 9:00.

Really?

Oh...

And I just thought

you missed me.

Well, I'll tell you

who I don't miss,

and that's that

friend of yours - Jackson?

Jasper.

Yeah, I could tell that

he made you uncomfortable.

Just not my cup of tea,

that's all.

Why is that?

Andy, he, he's too...

You know.

- Gay?

- Yes.

I'm gay.

Well, you're different.

Oh? And how is that?

You're not all 'neeeeuh,'

you know?

I see.

Are you ashamed to be seen

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