I bumped into someone yesterday (I’ve just noticed it’s gone midnight) who I haven’t seen in about 6 years. He looked the same as ever. He’s short, fat and very very camp. He must be in his mid-50’s now but he’s always looked that way and I’ve known him about 10 years now.
He is man-mad and while I was talking to him he was eyeing up some Polish builders and making it very plain at that. “Ooooh he’s nice” he said then looking at another “ooooh (a flick of his very limp wrist towards the object of his attentions) I wouldn’t kick him out of bed in a hurry” and so on and so forth. They would have easily heard him but he was unperturbed as always
He’s openly gay and doesn’t give a damn what others think of him. He’s known to all and sundry in the gay community. While I was talking with him a butch spiky-haired lesbian walked by and he said “oh hello dearie” and she smiled and said “hello love, how are you?” and they exchanged pleasantries before she went on her way.
Even though he’s shaped like an egg, is balding, has very chubby cheeks and a belly that hangs over his belt, he’s always been popular with the young ‘uns on the scene and in fact had just come out of a 6 month ‘highly charged’ relationship with a 28 year old Pole … he made quite a few relevant jokes about the Pole’s pole, well you get the gist I’m sure.
I’ve often wondered if his effeminacy has been a blessing or a curse. On some levels it must have been a blessing in disguise because I don’t think he ever had to formally come out. Yet in other ways, it must have been a curse because his sexuality is so obvious to others and I know he’s taken a fair amount of stick for it, working as he does in a quite laddish environment.
I admire him though, I think he carries a burden yet does so with grace, steely determination and masses of good humour. He’s a character and we need people like him in life.
