When Freddy approached me in a coffee bar in New York I was alone and feeling a little lost in the big city.
He was a friendly guy and I took to him straight away. He was somewhat older than me, I guessed about ten years or maybe more, but never the mind, he was a good conversationalist and just then I wanted some of that to while the day away.
"What are you doing in the big Apple, son?" he asked.
I said he could call me Jimmy and that I was due for a job interview in the city that afternoon at about four pm.
"So that's why you look nervous, and my name's Freddy, so pleased to have your company" he smiled and then added:
"You are like me, I hate interviews, tell you what, have you still a few minutes to spare, I will buy you some Dutch courage in Pete's bar next door, and I can guarantee you will be fit to face anybody, even the president of the United States" he grinned.
He was growing on me sure enough - He had the perfect way of making me feel at ease and I immediately agreed to his proposal.
Actually I got the job and no messing, the guy who interviewed me said I was just the sort of person they wanted in Real Estate, that I had a natural flair and outgoing personality to meet the demands of the job.
I had Freddy to thank for that without any doubt, that dose of Dutch courage worked wonders. He gave me his mobile number asking me to phone him and let me know if I got the job.
I told Freddy it was all because of him and how could I repay him for as surely as not I would have been a nervous wreck otherwise and would have failed, I know it!
When he said I could come round to his place for dinner and meet Miranda that would be thanks enough. So I immediately took him up on it not realising just how much my life was about to change.
"Miranda, meet Jimmy, he's the guy I met in the coffee bar this morning."
Miranda was a very large Alsatian.
"So this is Miranda, and there was me thinking she was your partner, Fred"
"Well she is of sorts, I am unattached at the moment and the only female company I prefer is a dog."
That should have told me something but I did not catch on until a little later when he made certain suggestions to me, saying that he took to me the first time he saw me and felt we could strike up a really lovely relationship.
I was completely unprepared and did not know what to say. He was a real nice guy and I did not want him to think I didn't like him because I did, but that way? I just wasn't sure, not sure enough to go to bed with him as he suggested.
He must have seen the despondency in my expression and sort of apologised saying that he just thought maybe his luck had changed and I was gay like he was, to forget that he ever suggested that but we could still be good friends, "couldn't we?"
I was in deep thought, on the one hand I had never contemplated a same sex relationship, not that way at least and yet, if I was going to be quite honest with myself, the idea did appeal to me, Whether it was because it was Freddy I don't know, he was an easy on the eye guy with a very attractive smile and disposition.