How it All Started
"Do you want a date or not?" Determination shone in Barry's eyes.
"With you?" Otis asked, though he privately agreed that dating clients may not be the best idea, and Otis'
company held the service contract on the computers at Richards General Contracting, Barry's business. No, no date with Barry, he's already said so.
At Barry's request (okay, command!) Otis removed his shirt, flushing hotly under intense scrutiny. Barry snapped a few pictures. Embarrassed at first, Otis soon loosened up, mocking a supermodel photo shoot he'd seen on TV.
His mind raced with questions that he dared not voice. Finally, Barry asked him to log onto
GetaDate.com , the GLBT dating service that had arranged their somewhat comical meeting. How could Otis not recognize a client's picture? Although, the one time before that he'd met Barry face to face he had been rather full of eggnog. It certainly wasn't Barry's fault, for the picture Otis used on his profile featured a hot model who didn't look remotely like Otis. Well, maybe a bit around the eyes. And how was Barry to know that Otis'
middle name was Vincent?
Sighing, and hoping Barry knew what he was doing, Otis dutifully typed his user name and password, after first working his magic, optimizing Barry's aging laptop.
Performing a familiar task momentarily calmed his shaky nerves, but not for long. He fought off panic when A Lie I Can Live With - 3
Barry deleted "Vincent's" picture, replacing it with one from the camera.
"Trust me on this one, okay?" Barry said.
Mumbling answers to questions about age, likes and dislikes, hobbies, etc., Otis felt he'd lost a friend in his contrived online profile. Not a very good one, but a friend nonetheless. One he'd known, and commiserated with, for the better part of a year. The man I'll never be.
"Actually, I have someone in mind who I think is gonna love you. Not 'Vincent,' but you, just the way you are," Barry assured him, sending Vincent to a cyber-grave. Where did pseudo-personalities go once they'd been deleted? No amount of pleading dissuaded the well-intentioned (so he said) meddler from what appeared to be a personal mission. Was Barry humming
"Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof ?
Enmeshed in his task, he didn't even look up while inviting Otis to spend the night -- in the guest room.
Having drunk maybe a half beer too much, Otis agreed and toddled off, wondering if Barry's efforts would help or hurt his dating prospects.
A Lie I Can Live With - 4
Another Lonely Weekend
Otis looked up when the bell chimed over the door, a shiver slithering up his spine at the chill that accompanied his two techs in from outside.
"Hey, Danny, you got any plans for the weekend?"
Steve plopped down in a chair, smoothing the day's completed work orders before stacking them on Otis'
desk. Each crumpled slip of paper represented another customer's computer woes beaten into submission.
Danny flashed a bright smile, adding his much neater stack of forms to the pile. "Mom's got the kids this weekend, so me and the missus are getting a start on our Christmas shopping early." He shuddered. "I have no intention of putting it off until Black Friday again this year."
Otis spun his chair to gawk at the wall calendar, nearly knocking over the small mountain of paperwork.
That time of year? Already? Wasn't it Labor Day not too long ago?
The calendar page said, "November," the twenty-fourth highlighted in red: Thanksgiving Day, kicking off the countdown to go home and visit the family. Only a few weeks away! With Black Friday electronics sales adding a boost to his business, no way could Otis spend a week in Jersey for both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Looked like he'd be staying home this turkey day.
"What about you?" Danny asked Steve, interrupting Otis' thoughts of a lonely feast for one.
Now it was Steve's turn to smile. "I'm taking a special lady skiing this weekend."
"Abby?" Otis ventured, picturing a willowy brunet. It was
"Do you want a date or not?" Determination shone in Barry's eyes.
"With you?" Otis asked, though he privately agreed that dating clients may not be the best idea, and Otis'
company held the service contract on the computers at Richards General Contracting, Barry's business. No, no date with Barry, he's already said so.
At Barry's request (okay, command!) Otis removed his shirt, flushing hotly under intense scrutiny. Barry snapped a few pictures. Embarrassed at first, Otis soon loosened up, mocking a supermodel photo shoot he'd seen on TV.
His mind raced with questions that he dared not voice. Finally, Barry asked him to log onto
GetaDate.com , the GLBT dating service that had arranged their somewhat comical meeting. How could Otis not recognize a client's picture? Although, the one time before that he'd met Barry face to face he had been rather full of eggnog. It certainly wasn't Barry's fault, for the picture Otis used on his profile featured a hot model who didn't look remotely like Otis. Well, maybe a bit around the eyes. And how was Barry to know that Otis'
middle name was Vincent?
Sighing, and hoping Barry knew what he was doing, Otis dutifully typed his user name and password, after first working his magic, optimizing Barry's aging laptop.
Performing a familiar task momentarily calmed his shaky nerves, but not for long. He fought off panic when A Lie I Can Live With - 3
Barry deleted "Vincent's" picture, replacing it with one from the camera.
"Trust me on this one, okay?" Barry said.
Mumbling answers to questions about age, likes and dislikes, hobbies, etc., Otis felt he'd lost a friend in his contrived online profile. Not a very good one, but a friend nonetheless. One he'd known, and commiserated with, for the better part of a year. The man I'll never be.
"Actually, I have someone in mind who I think is gonna love you. Not 'Vincent,' but you, just the way you are," Barry assured him, sending Vincent to a cyber-grave. Where did pseudo-personalities go once they'd been deleted? No amount of pleading dissuaded the well-intentioned (so he said) meddler from what appeared to be a personal mission. Was Barry humming
"Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof ?
Enmeshed in his task, he didn't even look up while inviting Otis to spend the night -- in the guest room.
Having drunk maybe a half beer too much, Otis agreed and toddled off, wondering if Barry's efforts would help or hurt his dating prospects.
A Lie I Can Live With - 4
Another Lonely Weekend
Otis looked up when the bell chimed over the door, a shiver slithering up his spine at the chill that accompanied his two techs in from outside.
"Hey, Danny, you got any plans for the weekend?"
Steve plopped down in a chair, smoothing the day's completed work orders before stacking them on Otis'
desk. Each crumpled slip of paper represented another customer's computer woes beaten into submission.
Danny flashed a bright smile, adding his much neater stack of forms to the pile. "Mom's got the kids this weekend, so me and the missus are getting a start on our Christmas shopping early." He shuddered. "I have no intention of putting it off until Black Friday again this year."
Otis spun his chair to gawk at the wall calendar, nearly knocking over the small mountain of paperwork.
That time of year? Already? Wasn't it Labor Day not too long ago?
The calendar page said, "November," the twenty-fourth highlighted in red: Thanksgiving Day, kicking off the countdown to go home and visit the family. Only a few weeks away! With Black Friday electronics sales adding a boost to his business, no way could Otis spend a week in Jersey for both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Looked like he'd be staying home this turkey day.
"What about you?" Danny asked Steve, interrupting Otis' thoughts of a lonely feast for one.
Now it was Steve's turn to smile. "I'm taking a special lady skiing this weekend."
"Abby?" Otis ventured, picturing a willowy brunet. It was
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