Kevin popped the top on a Coors Light. He preferred Bud but the Coors plant was just up the road a ways so Coors it was. Colorado and Coors. He smiled at Greg standing over the grill and poking at a steak. Greg had made a rub that he was sure Kevin and Meg would like and as the sweet hot smell of the Chipotle wafted upward he knew this was a winner. This was going on the menu at the pub as soon as he got home. No hurry though. Clark was holding down the fort and Greg knew how much Clark liked playing pub owner in his absence.
“Hey Kev, when are we going home? Not that I am in any hurry, just saying.” Kevin smiled as he reached for another beer. He popped the top and handed it to Greg.
“Quiet getting to you, Bro?” He arose and walked over to stand beside Greg at the grill.
“No, I really like it here. Sometime you will need to show me Denver. Do they have much community there?” Kevin knew that by “community” Greg meant gay culture, like San Francisco.
“I never spent much time there. I do know they have a community center. Well, so does Colorado Springs. Pueblo is trying, but they are not so open down there. Colorado Springs has the world’s largest and most religious centers. They tried to pass a law one time called Amendment 2 which basically took away any civil rights for gay people. Guy named Perkins. It was worded so it looked like a good thing and it passed. Course it was struck down by the Supreme Court when it was challenged. You ought to read up on that.” Kevin leaned closer to the steak sizzling on the grill. “Damn, Greg! That smells good. What is it?”
Greg beamed. “Well first you got your basic Chipotle which is just roasted Jalapeno.
Then I put in some garlic, Vidalia Onion, cilantro, and brown sugar. I rubbed that all in and
let it soak for a few hours. I think it is going to be pretty good. Going t be hot, but that
is what Chipotle is, isn’t it?”
Kevin laughed as he hooted, “ My little Gringo! Never thought I would see the day!.”
He reached for Greg and pulled him into an embrace and as he did so he saw the wide eyes of Fred
Himes and suddenly stopped and stepped back.
“Fred! Good to see you.” He stepped forward with his hand extended. Fred seemed not
to notice the gesture and pulled his hat off his head.
“Oh, I came for the party, like Mrs. Parker said I should do.” He rummaged in his
pocket and finally pulled out a handful of bedraggled vines. He thrust them toward Kevin.
“Here. I brang these.” Kevin stared at the sorry looking offering and then reluctantly reached
for the gift.
“Why thank you Fred. Let me go give these to mom. Take a look at what Greg is making
us for supper. Do you like hot stuff?” He headed for the door. “Be right back.”
Fred took a few tentative steps toward the grill and Greg. “Howdy. That sure does
smell good.” Greg suddenly felt his heart ache for the old man before him. What a simple soul
he was, bringing a vine. At least he knew the rudimentary patterns of behavior. Greg wondered
at what transpired in this fellows life to bring him to this mountain and his solitary life.
Well, at least he assumed it was a solitary life. Greg could not imagine any woman living there
with him. He breathed a sigh of relief as Meg came outside and went to the man.
“Oh, Fred. Thank you for the lovely vine. I have it in some water and I am going to
try to root it. I think it would be lovely on the east side of the chicken house.” She smiled
at Fred and his face lit up like a neon sign. Meg Parker brought out the best in everyone.
Kevin and Greg’s eyes met over her head and they both smiled.
Soon Fred and Meg were seated at the table and the boys were delivering a platter of
steaks and a bowl of grilled vegetables. Plates were passed and the farewell party was in full
swing. All were in agreement that the new rub Greg had made was perfect. Any more heat would
have been to much and any less too little. Just the right amount of sweet and the tang of the
cilantro melded it together perfectly. And the crowning achievement was the Flan that Greg had
finally mastered. Just the right amount of caramel.
As the boys began to clear the table, Meg noticed her hands were itching as she held
them up to examine them she detected tiny bumps. “Well, I must have gotten into something.”
She excused herself and went into the house where she washed her hands and got out a bottle of
Calamine Lotion which she rubbed on her hands. “I just don’t understand what I could have
gotten into.” she remarked as she walked back onto the patio. Kevin turned and held his hands
out to show her that his also were red and tiny blisters. They suddenly looked at Fred, who was
rubbing his hands together.
They all three turned and looked at Greg who showed them his hands which were not red.
It clicked with Meg first.
“Oh, dear! Fred I am afraid you have brought us poison ivy!”
****************This is the place to buy my first novella*****************
No comments:
Post a Comment