Cute white straight boy gets taken home by two kind black gay men but dreams of more....
It's 1990. 2am.
North London.
I'm a drunk short cute 26 year old white boy in faded retro camden market double denim: 501's, cherry red docs, navy blue fred perry with a skinhead haircut wobbling home up the hill from Tufnell Park in the dark to the flat I share with my girlfriend
I'm aware of two black men on the other side of the road walking in the same direction as me.
They call out and wave. I smile at them, wave back then look down and hurry my steps.
I'm unsteady on my feet and stumble.
They cross over to my side of the road and catch me up, either side so I am walking between them. They are tall and athletic.
I quicken my pace trying to outwalk them but end up mincing ungracefully with my short legs which only makes them laugh.
"Slow down darling."
"You can't run away. We just want to talk to you batty boi."
I find it hard to distinguish between the lyrical intonance of a London Carribean accent and a gay voice.
I'm scared, confused, unsure whether the homophobic epithet is meant as a joke or a threat.
I slow my pace to what I hope is a more relaxed, masculine stride and give them each a confident smile.
"That's better."
"So sweetheart, what do they call you?"
I stutter and manage to even slur my single syllable moniker:
"Dave....I'm... called... Dave."
They both laugh:
"Oh my god I told you didn't I? She's called Dave. They're always called Dave."
"Hey Dave, little white straight looking gay boy, where you going so late at night?"
"I'm going home. Home. To my girlfriend."
They both screech with laughter again.