Mates

Not even sure they're gay.  But they're fond of each other.  They love each other.  Enough to stand in the rain to be photographed together, arm in arm.

Majorca Flats -- 210

Jace-babe, what's all this about sloping off to Oz like this, all secretive? I managed to worm it out of gran when she thought she was getting info from me.

You know you can do what you want, Jacie-Dacie, but you could have told me you were just going to light out. I had conniptions when you weren't there when I got home from work. Mum has been nagging the living soulcase out of me to find out where you are, asking me twenty times a day where you've gone to and I've been answering as vaguely as possible but she can nag as you know. Full of grumbles and complaints, as if she were the one who'd lost something. She went on and on about how if you'd only found a nice girlfriend “from our class” “this would never have happened.” I could have struck her and in the end I said “Well it has happened and he's your son and don't you think it's time you started loving him?” So now we aren't speaking.

Jace, I'm so sorry about Brent. I did tell you before, but I don't know whether you were listening, you were so sad. So I'm telling you again. You know he and I got on, don't you? I think he was a bit intimidated by me at first but I watched how he watched you and he was besotted. He adored you, Jace. So of course, after I saw that, how could I not like him? I miss him as much as I miss you. I keep on thinking of afternoons when the three of us would do stuff together. I miss his sense of humour, the sly way he'd look at me when he was about to say something ridiculous or outrageous. Curse it, I'm crying now.

I'm not helping, am I? I just wish things had turned out differently. But don't reject me along with the rest of the family. I know Mark was tepid about Brent and your gayness and mum was simply horrid but truly I was on your side and I still am.

Do write, Jacie-Dacie. I miss you more than I can say.

Your loving sister

Amanda

P.S. They always end letters like that in those soppy books you used to read but you know I don't know anyone who really ends letters like that. So I'll end properly:

Heaps of love, Jacie-Dacie, you sodding rascal

Gups.

P.P.S. Write back soon or I'll kill you.

P.P.P.S. Worse, I'll give mum your email address and tell her where you are.

First Majorca Flats post       Previous MF post (#209)       Next MF post(#211)


Episodes 1 to 180 (without pictures, 10 episodes per chapter)

Arm-in-arm

The need for others; the need to be loved; the need for companionship. Sometimes it involves sexual desire, sometimes it's just love/affection/caring/compassion/friendship. Either way, it can be beautiful, especially when two men set aside their competitiveness to replace it with love.

Majorca Flats -- 128

With one on each side of Jason, Luigi and Keith shepherded him out the door and down the street. It was cool with the late night chill of summer, a relief after the warm day.

“Where're we going?” asked Jason, stumbling along the pavement between them.

“My place,” replied Keith. “It's closest.”

“I'll be all right,” muttered Jason, but without making any attempt to leave the comforting space between the two other men.

“Yeah, roight,” said Keith. “Ya need to be with friends.”

Jason stopped dead and looked at him. Then he put his head on Keith's shoulder and his arms round his waist. Muffled by Keith's Grateful Dead T-shirt, he said into Keith's neck, “Thanks, Keith.”

Then he turned to Luigi. “Thanks, Lou. You're a top bloke.” He said it in quotes, mocking himself and paying ironic homage to this Ozzie phrase.

“More of a bottom!” But Luigi was smiling wryly. He looked past Jason to Keith then nodded at Keith, too. “C'mon,” he said. “Let's go.”

Two young men arm in arm, Bulgaria 1930s

[Image from this collection  Notice how the suit style could have been from the 70s]

First Majorca Flats post       Previous MF post (#127)       Next MF post(#129)


Majorca Flats Episodes 1 to 10           Majorca Flats Episodes 61 to 70
Majorca Flats Episodes 11 to 20         Majorca Flats Episodes 71 to 80
Majorca Flats Episodes 21 to 30         Majorca Flats Episodes 81 to 90
Majorca Flats Episodes 31 to 40         Majorca Flats Episodes 91 to 100
Majorca Flats Episodes 41 to 50         Majorca Flats Episodes 101 to 110   
Majorca Flats Episodes 51 to 60         Majorca Flats Episodes 111 to 120