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    The Dinner Party
    The Dinner Party
    The Dinner Party
    Ebook84 pages51 minutes

    The Dinner Party

    By J.T. Evergreen

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    About this ebook

    I knew Robert had class the first time I met him on the beach in Santa Monica. After talking with him for a few minutes I was pretty sure of it. When I learned he was a Harvard educated lawyer, I nonchalantly asked if he was by any chance a Rhodes Scholar. He hesitated at first until I pressed him. He was. There was no question about it – he definitely outclassed me. I made some feeble excuse and began gathering my stuff when he almost pleaded with me, “Where are you going?”
    I stood up and smiled at him ruefully. “Back to my side of the tracks.”
    He stood up, “What the hell does that mean?” He knew exactly what I meant.
    “Rhodes Scholar requirement number four.” Until recently, I had thought it was ‘Roads’ Scholar. When I discovered my error, I looked it up.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Yes, you do ... sympathy for and protection of the weak and uneducated ... that’s me. I’m hoi polloi, Mr. Miller, and you’re not.” I picked up my beach bag and began to walk away.
    He grabbed my arm and held me back. “Wait a second.”
    “For what?” I was being snarky and felt ashamed for not at least being a gentleman which I prided myself on – until now. In hindsight, I think I was angry at myself for walking away from this prize catch, but it was the right thing to do, or so I thought at the time.
    He didn’t say anything. He was either at a loss for words or stunned at my rudeness.
    “Look ... I’m going before you become bored to tears.” I pulled away from his grasp and walked away.
    “You’re not being fair.”
    “Yes, I am ... I’ll give you a call sometime.”
    “You don’t have my number.”
    “Oh, yes I do.”
    He didn’t say anything and probably agreed with me. Whether he did or not ... it didn’t matter.
    But, I did enjoy talking with him, and it didn’t seem important to him that I was hoi polloi. Perhaps it was our mutual loneliness that drew us together.
    He had no intention of letting me go though I didn't realize it at the time. I'm not sure if it was love at first sight, Kismet, or Karma. But, I ended up marrying him and came precariously close to losing him over that damned dinner party. But we survived and ourrelationship became much stronger because of it.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJ.T. Evergreen
    Release dateFeb 7, 2019
    ISBN9780463641828
    The Dinner Party
    Author

    J.T. Evergreen

    OCCUPATION - Retired from the grind. Reflecting on successes, failures, and regrets. Exploring new aspects of self, writing that book which will get me an Oscar, staying out of trouble - well, small amounts of trouble are ok. Bringing joy into people's lives with random acts of kindness - the ones who aren't expecting it are the best. Cheering up check-out clerks at WalMart.ABOUT ME - Alone in blessed singleness. Wicked sense of humor, enjoy my own company, glad I'm not young any longer. I do miss the intimacy of being in love. A good catch . . . at least I think so. Enjoy the possibilities of every moment, an imagination that won't quite, a master weaver - give away everything I make, excellent portrait painter, a national treasure - though no one agrees with me, a good listener, intuitive, a good conversationalist, avoid boredom and boring people at all costs - that's a career all by itself.INTERESTS - Intelligent conversation: hard to come by these days, metaphysics, mysticism, my pups - Charlie, Max, and Bailey, seeing the funny side of life, going to Macy's at Christmas time - kicking Santa and punching an Elf. If I had a singing voice, which I don't, I would sing all of the time, wherever I was - even in WalMart. Wouldn't that be enchanting? When I receive the Oscar for the book I'm writing, I will have some baritone sing On A Clear Day, and I will lip sync his voice. It will wow the audience.PUBLICATIONS – Short Stories to celebrate the NEW YEAR - 23 delightful short stories; Alone at the Beach 25 short stories to keep you company, Home Alone, 8 Great Stories to keep you company, Born in the Twilight, Injun Summer, This’nThat, Short Stories for a Summer’s Day. Holiday Short Stories, With All My Love, Father Frederick Monahan, Shangri la, Stepping Stones to God, I’m Gay Mother – Get Over it, The Olde Book Shoppe, Naked Before God, The Italian Call Boy, The Silence of Healing, Death of a Pope, The Best Short Stories Ever, and My Love Affair with Father Tomas McTavish, working on a new character, Father Gibbon with Sister Mary Magda in TheAdventure of Father Gibbon with Sister M. Magda - it's about murder. I get choked up when I re-read some of my sentimental stories. I’m told that’s a sign of being a good writer.LOVES - Color and lots of it, strawberry jam, hiking up Yosemite Falls, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, sourdough bread, only made in San Francisco. Hearst Castle, Big Sur, sea air, Adams peanut butter, chocolate milk, rainy days, canaries singing, chocolate chip cookies my mother made, Greek yogurt with honey - oh, yum. Laughter. I make it a point of doing this many times a day.HATES - Stupidity, insensitivity, bad table manners - come on, how difficult is it to hold a fork properly - it's not a shovel for God's sake. Snow, ice, slush, freeway traffic, lima beans - what was God thinking, sleepless nights, people who are late, texting - it's a cop-out, tobacco, alcohol, red meat,FAVORITE BOOKS - The Spiritual Journey of Joel S. Goldsmith, How to Win Friends and Influence People - I collect this book and give them to people I hate - there's a waiting list.FAVORITE MUSIC – Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals – Gilda Radner - funny lady;; Joplin’s Peachrine, Ahmad Jamal - Country Tour - the absolute best jazz - never tire of it. Someone Waits for You – Carly Simons, Helen Kane singing Button Up Your Overcoat and I Want to Be Bad – I relate to the lyrics. And the Tenor who sang Springtime for Hitler in the Zero Mostel version of The Producers. No one seems to know who he is. What a voice.FAVORITE FILMS – The Celluloid Closet, Witness for the Prosecution, It Could Happen to You, Maltese Falcon, Inherit the Wind, 12 Angry Men, Harold and Maude, Murder on the Orient Express, Hope and Glory, Sorry Wrong Number, Speed, Practical Magic, Apollo 13, Where the Red Fern Grows, The original Producers - touch me, hold me - Estelle was terrific, and Zero - what can I say.FAVORITE TV SHOWS - I don't watch TV any more, but when I did . . . 2-1/2 men - when it was good. Everybody loves Raymond - some great writers; best sight gagsFAVORITE QUOTES – The poetry in writing is the illusion it creates: by me. Lord Chesterfield: “Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable.” The saddest words of tongue or pen are these - It might have been - indeed they are. If you want to make a success out of old age, you better start now: my mother when I was 15. On a clear day, you really can see forever - you just have to look. I may be rancid butter, but I'm on your side of the bread. Inherit the Wind.FAMILY – A father who was emotionally absent, a mother who provided all the necessities of life and nothing more. An older brother who is a classic socio-psychopath and made my childhood a misery. I hide from everything just to survive. My right of passage came when I was 18 and joined the Naval Air Reserves. In boot camp I hide in the back row the first day, and guess whose name they called to be the Company Commander – me. But it was the best thing that could have happened and I bless that moment. I had to lead those 50 plus men and boys for 90 days. The night of graduation we drilled in front of the audience and it was perfect. The guys carried me from the hangar in triumph. I came out of the shadows that summer and never went back. I'm a louse when it comes to cleaning house, too many other more enjoyable things to do.“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor WitShall lure it back to cancel half a Line,Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”Omar Khayyam

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      Book preview

      The Dinner Party - J.T. Evergreen

      The Dinner Party

      Copyright 2019 JT Evergreen

      Published by JT Evergreen

      at Smashwords

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Acknowledgements

      Many thanks to

      Khris Lawrentz

      for his tireless proofreading.

      The Dinner Party

      As told by Mason Clark Kent

      We were celebrating our seventh anniversary of being together at San Francisco’s Scala’s Bistro on Powell Street when Robert accomplished something I didn’t think possible – he caught me off guard.

      Will I do what?

      He was grinning from ear to ear. Will you marry me?

      Robert Carter Miller, what are you talking about?

      I’m talking about making it official.

      After seven years, it looks and feels pretty official to me.

      Come on, Mason … I’m serious.

      Where’s the ring?

      The … oh, my God.

      You don’t have a ring of engagement? For being one of the top lawyers in San Francisco, that’s pretty lame. I wonder what the boys at Ricci, Wong, and Romano would have to say about this. I could not keep a straight face as I wrung him through his own wringer.

      I’m sorry, Mason.

      Robert. What’s going on?

      He shook his head.

      It’s okay. I’m still here and have no intentions of going anywhere. But why now?

      He sighed, took a sip of wine, and then looked into my eyes. I’ve been invited to … The Dinner Party.

      Not … THE … dinner party?

      Yes.

      That’s bloody amazing. It’s been a long time in coming. I’m so pleased for you. Does that mean …?

      Partnership? … Perhaps. I don’t know.

      Robert, I couldn’t be more proud of you. You’ve earned it. Christ, you’ve worked hard enough.

      Yes, and I’m painfully aware of the far too many evenings you’ve spent alone.

      Have I ever complained?

      No … but I wish you had.

      Why?

      To lessen the guilt. He sighed and shook his head slightly. Without you by my side … what’s the point?

      Oh, I get it. This is your foreplay for some wild sex tonight?

      Stop it, Mason. He glared at me. He always knew how to let me know when I’d gone too far with my slightly twisted sense of humor. I want to make it official. I want you to go with me … not as a friend, or a roommate, or a trick … but as my life-partner . . . my husband.

      Husband . . . that word sent a shockwave through me. Jesus, you are serious. He wasn’t smiling but the look of love coming across the table just about knocked me over. Robert … of course, I’ll marry you … I thought you’d never ask.

      What are you talking about? I begged you to marry me six years ago. And you said no. Your exact words were – absolutely not.

      I don’t remember that.

      He laughed. You are such a liar. You remember it all right.

      I had to laugh. Yes, Robert, I do remember. And I also remember how frightened I was.

      Frightened of what?

      Screwing it up … and losing you.

      You never told me that.

      I was afraid to say anything.

      Are you frightened now? His expression went deadpan, anticipating my answer."

      I shook my head a little and smiled at the love of my life.

      His face lit up as he raised his glass of wine, I followed suit; we clinked glasses and all I could think of was the first time I laid eyes on that beautiful man – all those years ago.

      ***

      I was in Los Angeles and delayed my return to San

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