After Reggie had returned to Canada, life at the Wonder Bar remained the same, though dancers came and went. Some were spending the summer with wealthy johns at the beach. Others just didn't come in on some nights. I was asked to put in more sets on the stage.
By now I was accumulating a little nest egg, with no particular thoughts of what I would do next. I knew I was ready to leave New York; I was certain that I did not want to spend another winter here.
One busy Saturday night I was surveying the crowd while dancing around the stage. I wore a cock ring, knowing that the larger bulge in my thong would bring in larger tips. More and more frequently I couldn't keep a stiffy without some aid. Perhaps I was becoming jaded to all of this, I considered. I liked it more when I could focus on one or two men as I dance. However, on the busier nights the faces in the crowd became undisguisable. Still, this evening the music was hot and my body felt good and I was enjoying showing it off.
It was fun teasing the men knowing that they knew what I was doing. It was when someone took it too personally that the fun stopped. On this evening as I swung my hips across the stage my eyes crossed the bar with its blur of faces. Suddenly freezing in mid dance, I thought I saw someone familiar. One man had stood out. He had a beard and, when our eyes briefly crossed, a glimmer of recognition passed between us. I resumed my dancing but kept returning to the spot where I thought I had recognized someone. But there was no one there.
Later, near closing time, I had finished my last set, dressed and went to the bar for a drink. The bartender was Paul, a muscular young man who was supposedly straight, though he hadn't seemed straight when I had sucked him off after work a few weeks after he started.
In between his preparation to close, he paused in front of me and said, "You were being asked about earlier tonight.
I answered, "Who," then sat closer to the bar in anticipation of what he was about to tell me.
"He was a hot man, someone with a beard and a real daddy type. He was a little younger than you like, but he asked your name and I told him. He seemed surprised and said, "You mean he dances under that name?" Then he asked me, "Do you have another name Dave?"
"No," I answered, "Did he say why he asked?"
"Nope," Paul continued, "I was even doing a little flirting trying to loosen him up, but he'd have none of it. He even asked what nights you worked." I told him and had turned away from him for just a second and when I turned back he was gone, just like that. He didn't even finish his beer."
"Have you seen him here before Paul?" I asked.
"I don't think so," the barman replied. "He had kind of a southern sounding accent, that's all I know."
"Tell me if he comes back again, will you Paul?" With that, I sat down my drink and walked toward the exit when I heard him shout out, "If you don't want him, I do." I thought, "So much for being straight, Paul."
Walking down 21st Street I thought about the connection that I seemed to have had made with the man at the bar. There was no reason for it. Perhaps he had just been curious about my dancing. There are all types in New York. Or maybe this is just my imagination. I wished that I had some reason for staying in Manhattan, but couldn't think of what else to do, so I decided to grab a subway and head back to my place in Brooklyn.
It was a short walk from the subway to Wesley Street in Brooklyn which is a narrow avenue with a canopy of trees that filter light from the street lamps giving it a slightly sinister look.
Walking toward my apartment, I started to sense that I was being followed. The neighborhood is generally a safe one, but on a New York street late at night, it's never completely safe. I tried to dismiss the feeling of someone following me, but still I began speeding up only to hear steps behind me matching my pace.. Before I could break into a sprint a voice behind me called out, "Don't be afraid, Dave, it's me, I've been waiting for you at the corner."
On hearing that voice, I froze immediately. "It can't be." I recognized what I hoped was my father's voice and turned around.
"Hi son," came from the shadowy silhouette behind him emerging into the dim light. He was the man with the beard.
He was voice was so casual while my heart was suddenly pounding in my throat. My hands went clammy. My breath caught when I tried to speak. It took a moment to recover when my whole being wanted to rush forward to him. And that's just what I did. Opening my arms wide, I spontaneously called out, "Dad" and I ran toward him.
When he took me in his arms and we embraced, I couldn't suppress the sob in my voice. "You're here, oh Dad you're here.". The pain of loneliness swept away from me. I clutched my arms around him and the sob turned loose a flood of tears as I buried face on father's shoulder.
"Don't cry son, I'm here for you now." Our arms were around each other and we didn't speak anymore while we made our way up the stoop into my apartment building.
Once inside we embraced again. "It's been so long Dad, I've missed you".
"I know Dave, and I've also missed you so much. I was afraid that after so much time you wouldn't be happy to see me, but I'm really glad that you are."
"Oh god yes, Dad, yes, yes, yes. Now that I can see you I couldn't be happier."
Pulling back from our embrace, we looked at each other apprehensively. Unspoken words passed between us. We seemed at a cross roads between not knowing what to do next but each of us knowing what we wanted.
Hesitatingly I tried to start a conversation. "Paul told me that someone had been to the bar and asked about me." As a second thought I added, "I hope you weren't disgusted with me dancing like that."
He chuckled at my comment. "I guess we've both got a little exhibitionist in us. I think part of me was jealous of someone having the nerve to strip on a stage. The first time I saw you I didn't recognize you. You've gotten all muscular since I last saw you naked."
On hearing that his dad remembered seeing me naked, my cock leapt in my jeans.
"I don't know what to say son, you're a good dancer," then paused, "no, you're a really good dancer," emphasizing 'really'. He stepped back to look at me. Sounding slightly embarrassed he said, "I don't know if I should tell you this, but watching you dance sure got a rise out of me, if you know what I mean."
I knew what he meant and the thought that my father had gotten a hard on watching me dance caused my own cock to ache to be released from the confinement of my Jockeys. Reaching down, I momentarily rearranged my burgeoning penis. My father glanced down then looked back up at me before saying, "We'll get to that soon enough, son, but first let's sit down for a few minutes, there's something I want to tell you."
He led me over to the couch. "Dave, I guess you don't know this, there's no way you could have since I didn't call or write, but I want you to know that I've sold the business."