New York 1912 Chapter 5
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Aside from all manner of homosexual behavior, I have one additional warning. There is occasional mention of drug use characteristic of the time period. I promise that it is only incidental here and there and not constant. It was not included to proselytize but only for the sake of authenticity.
Continued upon request:
jet2larkin at Jeemale dot kom---- (reinterpret)
City Life:
I put my opium pipe aside and I'm resisting its compelling allure. Smoking opium every day becomes all encompassing. Cares and worries are carried aloft in smoky tendrils. I smoked a little everyday for a month and day after I stopped I was beset with a terrible illness that took a full 4 days to get over.
A old man I had met at Fitz's tavern said, "You need to watch yourself because each cycle of indulgence followed by a period of abstinence doubles in its intensity and out of it will grow a frightful nightmare."
He gave me a resigned and knowing smile, "Like a snake eating its own tail."
~
Monday morning, April 15, 1912:
I was heading to the Little Cup Cafe for a morning breakfast when I heard the cries of the newsboys coming from all directions. This was an unusual second morning edition. The first one had sold out almost immediately.
"Extra, extra, Titanic sinks!"
I paid a boy for a copy of the New York World and across the front of the paper was a now ominous lithograph of the long black ship.
I stood on the corner stunned in my tracks reading the horrifying news.
Titanic Sinks Four Hours After Hitting Iceberg; 866 Rescued By Carpathia, Probably 1,250 Perish; Ismay Safe, Mrs. Astor Maybe, Noted Names Missing
Biggest Liner Plunges to the Bottom at 2:20 A.M. RESCUERS THERE TOO LATE
Expect to Pick Up the Few Hundreds Who Took to the Lifeboats.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST
Cunarder Carpathia Rushing to New York with the Survivors.
SEA SEARCH FOR OTHERS
The California Stands By on Chance of Picking Up Other Boats or Rafts.
OLYMPIC SENDS THE NEWS
Only Ship to Flash Wireless Messages to Shore After the Disaster.
Sitting at my table I was so engrossed in the paper that I didn't even look up. "Yes, yes, just coffee this morning thank you."
CAPE RACE, N.F., April 15. -- The White Star liner Olympic reports by wireless this evening that the Cunarder Carpathia reached, at daybreak this morning, the position from which wireless calls for help were sent out last night by the Titanic after her collision with an iceberg. The Carpathia found only the lifeboats and the wreckage of what had been the biggest steamship afloat.
"Pretty terrible, all those people drowning among the icebergs and all."
I looked up to see the youthful waiter that was bringing my coffee. He leaned over my shoulder to see the picture of the ill-fated boat. It was usually considered rude for a waiter to do this. When I looked up, our eyes met. I've always considered less than perfect manners a desirable trait.
I inquired, "Did they fire the cranky waiter?"
He gave me a wonderful smile. "I wouldn't know. The manager just handed me an apron and told me to be here every morning a 6 a.m. They said the owner of the steamship line, Mr. Ismay escaped cause he was wearin woman's clothes. You know what they say, women and children first.
He looked about 16 or 17 but when I asked, he said, "Ahm all of 15."
He was not as tall as me, but blond and angelic. "You know I came over on a boat like this only it wasn't near as big."
He mused, "I think,...it had only one smoke stack and not 4."
By now he had my full attention. "What ship did you travel on?"
"It was the Kaiserin Victoria out of Hamburg. It stopped at Harwich and a friend smuggled me on board into his cabin. He was first mate. That's almost a captain. I had to hide in his cabin the for the entire trip but I had a great time."
I knew that there must be much more to that story. "So you're English?"
"Yea, a Londoner. I had already decided that it was time for me to leave home."
The more I looked at him the more I realized how incredibly sexual he was. Perhaps it was his searching gaze and opened mouthed smile that provided enough evidence. I adjusted my chair so that I might have a glimpse at his bottom. It was fuller and rounder than Peter's whose bottom was almost non-existent.
The manager came up behind us. "Drake! Unless you want this to be your first day and your last day working here, Ya better get busy, you got other people waitin!"
I stayed on to have some breakfast cake and when he came around again he quickly introduced himself.
"How late are you working till?" He said maybe 9 in the evening.
His name was Daniel Drake and in a very short period of time we had developed mutual intentions. I gave him my card and invited him over for tea, brandy or whatever.
~
When I arrived home I noticed a letter on the sideboard next to the front door. It appeared to be written with a blunt lead pencil and it required some deciphering.
Dear Mr. Edmund.
I am not going to school tomorrow. I should like to visit you again. I will ring your bell and if you are not home, I will go over to Washington Square near the big arch.
Billy Broome
There was no return address.
~
I was still in a state of mental confusion over the horror of thousands drowning in icy black waters with the sinking of the Titanic on one hand and my new acquaintance, Daniel Drake on the other..And now I was torn between Daniel and little Billy.
I thought to myself, How could a young boy like Daniel be holed up in a ship's cabin for 14 days and say he had a wonderful time? There could be only one answer to that question.
And what if Peter shows up before Daniel's arrival only to grudging have to move over in favor my new pet? How would he take it..?
Or what if he shows up in the middle of our dirty deeds? I know that he will stand at the door and pound on it until I let him in.. And then, he might turn on his heel and be done with me forever. I would consider it a terrible loss because I am extremely fond of Peter..
One thing is certain is that because of the terms of their employment, they would both would be gone by dawn allowing me to prepare for little Billy's visit later that morning..
I have complicated my life beyond reason..
~
I stopped by the Italian green market and bought some fruit and then on to the bakery for bread and some pastries and finally to the Jewish grocer for some cheeses and meats.
Nothing in this world is more volatile and unpredictable than hungry boys. This is the wellspring of murder, anarchy and revolution.
Continued upon request:
jet2larkin at Jeemale dot kom---- (reinterpret)