Straightening Ali (25 page)

“
The flight’s under booked. I don’t think they’ll mind with less than twenty people onboard,” the man replied. “I’m so lucky to find such a pretty boy on the same flight as me to share my journey with.”

“
Thank you,” said Ali, feeling a little taken aback by the man’s words.

“
So why are you traveling to Strasbourg? Is it business or pleasure?” the man asked, taking hold of Ali’s hand and stroking it gently.

“
I’m visiting a university friend,” Ali said, pulling his hand out from the man’s grasp.

“
Do I make you uncomfortable by holding your hand?” he asked, sounding surprised.

“
Yes, I’m not used to a man holding my hand.” Ali said. He wanted to add the words “in public” to the sentence, but didn’t feel comfortable revealing his sexuality to a stranger.

“
I’m Italian. We Italians are a very passionate people. We like to hold hands and touch our friends. We are very tactile,” he said excusing his behavior. “You are very pretty. I wish to hold your hand. It makes me happy,” he said grasping Ali’s hand again.

“
Well it makes me uncomfortable,” Ali said. He worried that someone might see them holding hands and come to the wrong conclusion.

“
You are such a pretty boy. Do you have a hairy chest?” he asked.

“
I’m not telling you that!” Ali exclaimed.

“
If you weren’t wearing that high necked jumper I would have been able to give you the answer myself,” he said.

“
Well, I’m not telling you,” Ali said, feeling irritated by him. He examined him momentarily. The man was quite stout, with dark hair that had a round bald crown rising through the center. He looked about forty five years old, and his face was coated in a layer of sweat, giving him the appearance of sleaziness.

“
What is your name?” he asked.

“
Ali Mirza,” Ali responded.

“
It’s good to meet you, Ali Mirza. My name is Benigno,” he said, shaking Ali’s hand but then not letting go. “Your friend, is he a pretty boy like you?”

“
Well, he seems very nice,” Ali said.

“
You have such beautiful hands,” Benigno said. “They are so soft. So what will you do together in Strasbourg?”

“
My friend is going to show me around. We’ll probably go sight seeing,” Ali told him.

“
I would like to show you the city, too. It is a very beautiful city. I would like to take you to dinner at my favorite restaurant by the cathedral,” Benigno said.

“
I’m not sure if I can. I’ll be quite busy. We’ll have to see,” Ali said.

“
I can take you and your friend. It is the most expensive restaurant in the city,” Benigno said grandly.

Ali tried to think of an excuse, but fortunately at that moment the seat belt sign went on. “I think you have to go back to your own seat when the seat belt sign shows,” Ali reminded Benigno.

“
You are such a tease,” Benigno said, getting up. “I’ll be back soon. I can’t stay away from a lovely pretty boy like you for too long.” He leaned over and gave Ali a kiss on his forehead before getting up.

“
I must have ‘GAY’ stamped on my forehead,” Ali thought to himself miserably as the stocky figure trundled back through the curtains into business class.

The seat belt sign stayed on for several minutes before being switched off again. “Oh no,” Ali groaned to himself as the curtains twitched and Benigno’s hands came through.

“
Have you missed me my pretty boy?” he asked striding down the walkway to sit down next to Ali again.

“
Not really,” Ali said, sounding embarrassed at the thought that someone might hear him being called a pretty boy.

“
You were looking for me. I could tell. You missed me. A pretty boy like you shouldn’t be left alone for too long, or he’ll get himself into trouble. I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble,” he said slipping his hand back into Ali’s.

“
I’ve never got into trouble. I’m a married man,” Ali reminded Benigno, pointing at the wedding ring on his finger, and pulling his hand out from Benigno’s grasp.

“
Don’t you like me?” Benigno asked sadly. “I just want you to be my pretty friend.”

“
It’s not that I don’t like you,” Ali assured him. “You keep holding my hand, and it makes me uncomfortable.”

“
Do you want me to stop holding your hand?” Benigno asked.

“
Yes, I would love you to stop holding my hand,” Ali said, flabbergasted that he was being asked the question.

“
There you are,” Benigno said, releasing Ali’s hand. “Now, will you go out to dinner with me?”

“
I can’t. I’m staying with a friend,” Ali said.

“
I shall take you both out. You will love it,” Benigno said, trying to impress Ali.

“
I can’t afford to go to an expensive restaurant. I’m traveling on a budget,” Ali said.

“
You don’t have to worry about money. I’m willing to pay anything to be in your company. I can take you both out for a meal every night of your stay,” said Benigno lavishly.

“
That’s very kind of you, Benigno, but I can’t accept. It wouldn’t be right. If I can’t afford something then I’d rather go without. I don’t like taking things from people I don’t know,” Ali said, trying his best to turn down Benigno’s generosity as politely as he could.

“
I’m Italian. We Italians like to share our wealth. If you don’t join me for dinner, I’ll be lonely and sad on my own in Strasbourg. Please say you will join me for dinner even if it’s just for one night?” Benigno asked.

“
Can I think about it?” Ali asked. “I will need to ask my friend. I can’t promise anything. It depends on what he says and whether he’s already made plans.”

“
I look forward to it, my pretty boy,” Benigno said happily.

“
I’m feeling really tired,” Ali said feigning sleep. “Is it okay if I try and sleep for a while?” he asked trying to find an excuse to get rid of Benigno.

“
Yes, of course. I’ll sit here and watch you sleep,” Benigno said enthusiastically.

“
I can’t sleep with someone watching me. Can’t you go back to your seat, and we can talk later,” Ali said in exasperation. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m really tired.”

“
Yes, my pretty boy. I will talk to you later,” he said cheerfully. He gave Ali’s leg a quick stroke before getting up.

Ali closed his eyes. “You have beautiful long eyelashes,” he heard Benigno say. Ali opened his eyes again, but by then Benigno had left.

Ali found himself drowsing peacefully but was eventually woken up by the pilot announcing the descent into Strasbourg airport.

Suddenly, all his insecurities about seeing Steve came flooding back. He tried to block them out, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Steve really wanted to see him. “I’m being paranoid,” Ali thought, pushing the insecure feelings away as best he could.

Ali looked out of the cabin window to distract himself. The plane was going through some thick vapor clouds and small icy particles stuck to the window pane creating minute snowflakes that mesmerized Ali.

Suddenly, Ali saw the runway lights on the ground as the plane adjusted its flight path. The ground came closer until Ali felt the impact and the thud of the plane’s wheels hitting the tarmac.

The plane came to a halt on the runway as the pilot announced the arrival. The cabin doors were flung open a few minutes later, and the steps maneuvered into place. Ali stayed seated while the few passengers on the flight got off the plane. He lingered in his seat until he was sure that everyone had left the plane and then made his way to the exit door at the front where he collected his suitcase from the steward.

Ali deliberately walked slowly toward the terminal building lagging behind the other passengers in an attempt to avoid Benigno. However, Benigno had spotted him already. “Ali! Ali!” Benigno shouted, waving at him frantically, trying to get his attention.

“
I’ve been looking out for you,” he said as Ali reached him. “What took you so long?” he asked Ali as he grabbed his hand.

“
I had to pick up my suitcase,” Ali said, trying unsuccessfully to pull his hand out of Benigno’s grasp.

“
I can’t wait to show you around Strasbourg,” Benigno said excitedly.

“
I’ve told you that I’m not sure if I can meet you. It depends on my friend,” Ali reminded him. He tried again to pull his hand free from Benigno’s as they reached passport control.

“
I need to get my passport out, and I can’t when I’m pulling my suitcase with one hand and you’re holding the other,” Ali said trying not to sound too annoyed.

Benigno immediately let go of his hand. “You’re a shy boy. I think you don’t want me to hold your hand because you are shy. I like shy boys,” he said.

Ali separated from Benigno and showed his passport to the customs officer behind the glass screen. He then walked hurriedly through to the baggage reclaim area, seeing it as a fantastic opportunity to escape Benigno.

“
Wait, Ali!” Benigno shouted as he raced after him having had his passport checked.

Ali paused briefly waiting for Benigno. “I have to rush off and meet my friend,” Ali told him.

“
I know. It’s sad that our journey together must end. I’ll miss you, my pretty boy,” he said forlornly, hugging Ali to his chest. “Please have my business card. It has my cell phone number on it. Call me anytime.”

“
I’ll try if I get the chance,” Ali said taking the business card.

“
You must do more than try. I want to see your pretty face again and spoil you,” Benigno said.

“
That’s very kind of you. I promise I’ll try and see you at some point during my stay,” Ali said trying to assure him with his insincere promise. It was unlikely that he’d see Benigno again, so it didn’t matter what promises Ali made to him.

“
Thank you, thank you, my beautiful friend,” Benigno said ecstatically. He hugged Ali again and kissed him noisily on both cheeks. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

“
Goodbye!” Ali said, not looking back and heading out into the arrivals area knowing that Benigno’s gaze was following him as he left. He considered throwing away the business card he’d just been given but instead slipped it into his jacket pocket in case he ever needed it.

Ali’s gaze passed over the crowd of people waiting at the arrivals gate trying to locate Steve among the people holding large cards with names on them. However, Steve was nowhere to be seen.

Ali waited impatiently, glancing at his watch every few seconds. “Maybe he’s caught up in traffic,” he thought trying hard not to let his insecure feelings get the better of him. He moved away from the arrivals gate in case he bumped into Benigno and wandered into a small international newsagents at one end of the terminal to buy himself an English newspaper to read while he waited.

Ali picked up a copy of
The Times
newspaper but worked out that he’d be paying the equivalent of three pounds for it. He eventually settled for the
The Mirror
, which was a pound cheaper. It seemed a luxury buying an expensive newspaper when he had so little money. He felt cheated as it only cost thirty pence in England.

Ali found a chair and sat down to wait for Steve. He began to read the paper, but he couldn’t concentrate on the stories, worrying that he may miss Steve if he walked past. Half an hour later, Ali was busy trying to digest some of the stories in the sports section, when he suddenly caught his name being mentioned on an announcement over the speaker system in French.

The announcement was thankfully repeated again in English. “Will Mister Ali Mirza please report to the information desk.”

“
It’s Steve,” Ali thought excitedly, cheering up suddenly. “He probably couldn’t find me.” He got up, leaving his newspaper behind on the chair and hurriedly followed the signs to the information desk. When he arrived, he was frustrated to find that Steve wasn’t there.

“
Do you speak English? My name is Ali Mirza. You’ve asked me to report to the information desk,” Ali said to the female clerk behind the desk not bothering to wait to find out whether she spoke English or not.

“
I have a call waiting for you,” she said smiling pleasantly, and handed him a phone.

“
Thank you,” Ali said, taking the phone. “Hello,” he said into the phone sounding puzzled.