Home Run Chapter 4 Brian: ~~~~~ "Hi Cyn, how's it going?" "Going great, Brian. Have you seen this months' figures yet?" "Sure have, but I'm a bit worried about the Atkinson Account. Tell Marty I'll call him when he gets back from his trip. I've got an idea I wanna run pass the two of you that I think might just swing it". "Okay Brian, will do. Otherwise, how is it in the Big Apple?" "Oh, you know, busy-busy: just as always. I'll call you in a couple of days to see how it's going. Bye". "Bye, Brian". 'Busy-busy', he thought. 'Damn, when isn't it!' Brian was becoming a victim of his own success. Kinnetik had earned a reputation as being an agency with a unique approach to advertising; no bullshit; they told the truth. Well, as close as you could get to it anyway. Over the years, Brian had realised that consumers now saw through most advertising campaigns. They liked to know the facts behind the products and wanted to know their downside as well as the benefits and Brian had the balls to tell them. It was a shock to most clients what Brian wanted to do with their campaigns, but once they got over that, the majority were more than happy to go along with them. In the passed few years since he moved to New York, there hadn’t been room for much else other than work. When he decided that it was time to go out on his own, the setting up of the Pittsburgh office had been hard enough and he knew that area; was a native, understood the territory. But moving here had been an even bigger challenge. Here, no one knew the name of Brian Kinney. Sure, he’d won an award sponsored by a prestigious NY advertising agency once, but that was years ago and trying to break into the big boys in the Big Apple had been more difficult than he could ever have imagined. Initially, when he’d arrived, the temptation to check out the clubs and bars had proved too strong. But it hadn’t taken long for him to realise that they were the same places, playing the same music with the same hot guys that he’d left behind in Pittsburgh. And in any case, the clubs were now full of kids, practically half his age and he felt out of place in them. He didn’t want to look a pathetic loser, chasing young guys, even though he told himself that if he wanted to, he could still manage the odd conquest, or two, or three, hell - make that a hundred! But even the tricks were starting to bore him these days. He’d pick up a guy every now and again, but mostly through his work contacts. Or he had the telephone number where they knew what he liked. Brian looked at the appointments calendar on his laptop. His week was more or less all fixed up. ‘Fuck’ he muttered to himself, checking the date. It would soon be his 40th birthday. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Happy birthday, Dad. Did you get the card I made you?” “Hi, Sonny-boy. I sure did. Thank you, it’s great”. “Dad, when am I gonna get to see you again? It’s been like ages”. Brian sighed. He spoke to Lindsay and Gus on the phone most weeks, but it had been months since he’d been back to the Pitts for a quick visit, to tie up some legal papers and see his son. It was over three years since he’d moved to New York and in all that time he’d seen Gus on only six occasions. He knew he was a lousy Dad. Though despite the little time he’d spent with him throughout his short life, Brian loved his son dearly. Fatherhood just didn’t come easy to him. “I know, Gus. But I will see you again soon, I promise”. “Promise? Scout’s honour?” “Scout’s honour”, replied Brian. “Okay. Mom wants to talk to you. I’ll put her on. Bye Dad. Love you.” “Bye, Sonny-boy. Love you too.” “Hi Lindz. How’s it going?” “Brian, I thought you were gonna try and get back here for your birthday. When are we going to see you again? We all miss you, you know”. “Sorry, Lindz. It’s just been so busy. I haven’t had five minutes………” “What, not even to come visit your son? He’s growing up Brian. You wouldn’t recognise him now, he’s changing all the time. You’re missing out on a lot you know and it’s not like you’re on the other side of the world”. “I know, I know. I will get a trip in soon. I promise. And by the way, I don’t need reminding about my birthday. This is one I’m trying to forget”. Lindsay chuckled. “Brian Kinney at 40. Who’da thought it. So, what are you gonna do for your birthday? Got some hot guy lined up?” “No”, answered Brian. “Actually, three hot guys, if you must know”. “Well, that sounds like the Brian Kinney we all know and love. Glad to hear things haven’t changed. Well, you have a good time and come and see us soon”. “I will Lindz. Bye” “Bye Brian”. As soon as Brian put down the phone it rang again. “Brian”, “Yes Maggie”. “Michael’s on the line”. “Thanks Maggie. ……….. Hi Mikey and before you start, don’t you dare wish me a happy birthday”. Michael Novotny laughed. “I got there before you pal, don’t forget that. If I have to suffer the indignity of being 40 years old than so do you”. “So, what are you doing for your birthday? Got some orgy to go to?” “Well, I thought I’d start off at the View Bar and then maybe on to the Duplex, followed by the Spider Club, Avalon ………..” “Okay, okay. I get the picture. Well, you have a great time. Are you gonna be getting back here again soon?” “I’ve already had this conversation this morning with Lindsay and yes, I will get back soon. I promise”. “Okay Brian. Ben says to say hello”. “How you two doing? Taken in any more waifs and strays lately?” Michael and his partner Ben, had become approved foster carers, opening up their home to homeless gay kids, helping them get themselves sorted out and hopefully, off the streets, back into school and eventually into independent living. They’d started by fostering a young hustler, Hunter who, like Ben, was HIV+. “Well, with Hunter now away at college, the place does seem kinda empty, but it won’t stay that way for long. Looks like we’ll have another kid by the end of the week”, answered Michael. “Anyhow Brian, enjoy your birthday. I’ll speak to you soon. Bye”. Brian put down the phone and for the rest of the day, buried himself in his work. Around 9.00pm. He decided to go home. Alone. He poured himself a large Beam. 10 years. Christ, where had it gone? It wasn’t just his 40th birthday on his mind. Another anniversary was due soon. In the middle of the night, Brian awoke with a start. He was sweating heavily, the nightmare so real, he thought he was re-living it all over again. Images of Justin lying on the cold cement; the ride to the hospital in the ambulance, clutching the blood-soaked scarf; sitting in the corridor for hours, not knowing if he would live or die, kept him awake for the rest of the night and when he decided he obviously wasn’t going to get any more sleep, he got up, showered and dressed and headed for the office. It was only 6.00am. when he entered the building, but he had a lot to do today and had to get a move on. Besides, he welcomed work as a way of forgetting what time of year it was. The sign on the wall, Kinnetik New York, always made him catch his breath, even now, after all this time and, not for the first time, he wondered whether calling his business by this name had been a mistake after all. One drunken evening at Woody’s, when Brian had first mentioned that he’d like to go out on his own one day, they’d been fooling around with names and had come up with this one, or rather, Justin had. Justin. He still thought about him, especially at this time: wondering where he might be these days. He wasn’t fooling himself; he knew that. He always looked to see if he could find Ethan Gold mentioned somewhere in the music journals, knowing that wherever he was, so was Justin. The office was quiet, Maggie, his PA and his other staff, wouldn’t be in for at least 2 hours and Brian put the coffee pot on as soon as he entered the office. His cell phone rang. It was Mikey. “Hi Mikey, Christ, this is early. What happened? Did Ben kick you out of bed already? Two calls in two days, Ben will start to get jealous…….. ” Brian stood behind his desk, cell in one hand, unpacking his briefcase with the other when Michael interrupted him. “Brian…… I ……. I’ve got some bad news. It Lindz and Mel. There was an accident last night. I just found out. Their car was hit by a truck …….. guy fell asleep at the wheel or something. Bri …… they didn’t make it”.