Chapter Four -- You Don't Have to Be a Star, Baby
The Peacock Inn Restaurant is down a couple of blocks from our house and then to the right on King Street, just across from the Purvis Esso gas station. King Yee bought the property in the early sixties and proceeded to tear down the massive, dark red brick Victorian mansion that had stood there for almost a century to build the peculiar building now housing his restaurant and living quarters above. His new building is faced with thick white stucco, with arches and flower planters in the front and two stories high with parking in the rear.
Brockville was suffering the fate of many small cities in the 'seventies, namely a dying downtown core with shopping malls in the north end and teardowns of irreplaceable, historic structures, all in the name of so-called progress and economy.
I have to admit though, that the interior of the Peacock Inn Restaurant is rather special. Greeting you at the front door when you come in is a huge, fierce and angry-looking cloisonné peacock statue that resembles no such bird ever found in nature. Red, shiny vinyl upholstered booths and chairs with black lacquered tables complete the theme. It was all very exotic and foreign for small-town Ontario in the 'sixties and 'seventies and had become a favorite dining spot for many people in town, my parents included.
"I'm just so worried about him, Richard. He's only nineteen and all the trouble we had with him skipping school because of the boys taunting him in gym class. Do you really think he is ready to start college in a strange city?"
"Iva, sooner or later he will have to learn to stand up for himself. He's not a little boy anymore. We won't always be there to protect him."
"I know Richard. It's just that I remember when he was seven years old and playing with that damned John Weldon down the street. John taking his marbles and toy soldiers and throwing them down the sewer grate when Aaron's back was turned. Aaron is a very trusting and naïve boy. I just worry about him getting taken advantage of or getting himself into trouble in Ottawa when he is away from me, errr, rather, us."
"Iva, you've never liked the Weldons since Dorothy broke down crying in our living room here and told you Don was having an affair on her. And then that obsession of yours about their youngest one Wendy, where you were so afraid she'd try to get pregnant and force Aaron into a marriage because you thought that's what Dorothy taught her girls to do in order to trap a husband. Like that was ever going to happen in hindsight now."
"Honestly Richard, you can really go off on a tangent you know at times."
"My point, Iva, is that we must learn now to sit back and let Aaron develop into who he will learn to become. We've both done a good job teaching him to have common respect for others and to understand right from wrong. Both you and I have worked long enough at the Psychiatric Hospital to see the damage done in the name of religion and what someone else thinks and deems is 'right' for boys who just happen to turn out being different."
"Am I happy that he is gay? Well, no, I'm not, honey. I have the same fears for his future as do you. It can be a lonely life and a violent and unhappy one, with alcohol and drug dependency or worse. We both know and have seen that happen time and again with the patients at the Psych' who have no family, or anyone for that matter to be there for them. But, I think we have to accept and support and love him and just be there for the times, and there will be times that he will need us."
"Richard. Have you ever said these things to Aaron?"
"Well no, honey, I haven't. I pray for him and ask God to keep watch over him."
"Your very liberal for a man of your generation, Richard."
"I saw a lot of unhappiness and sadness at the Hospital before I met you, Iva. And you've seen it too. The way the damned Psychiatrists and staff tried to cure homosexuals with shock treatments and aversion therapy...well, I used to think to myself that 'they' were the ones needing treatment and not the poor kids and young adults they were supposedly trying to fix. I've seen a lot of misery, both with the patients and the many male orderlies I manage on-staff. We are all human beings with our own hopes, dreams and desires. No one has any right to judge anyone else, as far as I'm concerned. After all, no one is perfect and when I think about it now, wouldn't it be one boring world if we all were?"
"I know, Richard, I know. I'm glad we came out to talk about this."
"And, oh yes, I did give Delphine a call and we are going to have lunch together at The Relax Restaurant later on the week. I don't think she has many friends, Richard. Let's have her over here when Adam gets back to us with a date for dinner. Is that OK with you?"
"That's a good idea, Iva," he says.
"Hey, Aaron! Are ya' lookin' for more KY to buy there?" says Adam, as he stands behind me in the store and quietly laughs to himself.
"Uh, no, Adam. I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the Capital Theatre with me tonight or tomorrow. 'Saturday Night Fever' with John Travolta is playing and I really want to go see it."
"You like to dance there, cookie?"
"Yes, Adam. I've got a lot of disco and soul records and I watch 'Soul Train' on the Rochester TV station when we can get it tuned in on the cable on Saturdays at home."
"I kinda' like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and some stuff from Chaka Khan," says Adam.
"Are you off this evening, then? Can we go? I'm asking you out this time," I say.
"OK, sure thing, cookie. How about tomorrow though? I'm off then. but dontcha be expectin' me to put out for ya' without dinner first! Hah, hah! Just kidding, babe! I'll pick you up around 8:00."
"Oh, yes! I almost forgot. This is for you, Adam,"
" Hmmm, somethin' in a plain, brown paper bag. You could have at least wrapped it for me!" he says.
"Just don't open it here! Maybe go into the back when you open it. There's a note inside to go along with it, too."
"Ya' got me all curious now, cookie. Now, was there anything else I can help you with? Maybe like actually buying something? Or do I hafta' kick you outta' here for loitering, before old lady Fullerton sees me wasting my time over here with you?"
"OK! OK! I'm going now. No big boner for me today, I see."
"Saving those now for when I get to be alone and naked with you, or when I'm all alone and just thinkin' about you, Aaron," Adam whispers to me.
"Hah, hah! See you tomorrow at eight then, Adam."
