Sheltered by Pete’s hard, warm, male flesh, Bill felt safe for the first time that day. Reluctantly, he freed himself of Pete’s embrace, wiped his face on his sleeve, and said, “I’m sorry.”

“Your folks found out you’re gay and threw you out? Is that what happened?”

Not trusting himself to speak, Bill nodded.

“That is fucked up. You don’t have a place to stay tonight, right?”

“No,” Bill said, wondering whether Pete was about to offer him a bed. The thought was frightening and exciting.

“Okay, wait here. I know someone who can help you.”

Slightly let down, he watched Pete disappear into the crowd while he sipped his Coke. A moment later, the bouncer emerged followed by another man—a boy, really, who did not seem much older than Bill. The boy was tall and stick-thin. His trousers were spray-painted tight and he wore a long-sleeved blouse-like white shirt, buttons undone to reveal a pale, hairless chest. He sashayed behind Pete, stopping to greet friends with a flip of his wrists. His flame red hair came to a brittle point above his forehead. As he approached, Bill saw traces of mascara ringing the boy’s bright blue eyes and smelled a gardenia-scented perfume. He was dismayed.

“Here’s our stray,” Pete said to the boy when they reached Bill. “Bill, this is Waldo. He said you could crash at his place tonight.”

“Well, hello, Bill,” Waldo trilled, his voice surprisingly deep. “You are fresh off the farm, aren’t you?”

“Hi,” Bill mumbled.

“I’m gonna leave you two boys to talk,” Pete said, stepping back to his post.

Waldo smiled and looked Bill over. Although there was nothing carnal in Waldo’s appraisal, Bill felt more exposed under the other boy’s bright gaze than he had under the stares of the men on the street.

“Are you afraid I want to get into your pants?” Waldo asked. “Because, hon, let me tell you right off the bat, I’m not into twinks, at all. Pete says you need a place to crash and that’s what I got, plus some soup if you’re hungry. It’s late and Mama’s tired and I have to work tomorrow, so are you coming?”

“Um, I don’t know.”

“Suit yourself, hon,” Waldo said, kindly. “You can come with me or hit the street but I gotta tell you, things get pretty ugly out there after last call. Your choice.”

The weight of the long day and all of its strangeness and anxieties, sights and sounds came crashing down on Bill. Exhausted and despairing, he said to the swishy boy, “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

“Smart boy. Let me get my wrap and we’ll be off.”