The Gay Icon Classics of the World (6 page)

Santiago doesn't hear about the marriage. Instead he reads about it in the local paper. His emotions are so overwhelming that his eyesight becomes blurred as he reads the headline: “Juan-Miguel Hernandez to marry Isabella Echaniz.” Santiago sees the paper on the stand next to the others the vendor is selling. He buys a copy and stumbles home in disbelief.

Santiago cries himself to sleep every night until the day of the wedding. The wedding is such an exciting and hopeful village event that the whole town closes to witness it. Even Santiago slips quietly into the crowded San Rita de Cascia, where there is standing room only.

He watches how lovingly Juan-Miguel recites his vows to Isabella. Isabella looks so beautiful that every man, woman and child cannot take their eyes off her. The townspeople celebrate the blessed event the whole night through, drinking, playing
music, and dancing. All are happy. Santiago listens silently to the music as he lies in his bed in his dark room, alone. As he drifts towards sleep, his newly installed door opens, and he beholds a drunken Juan-Miguel standing haloed in his doorway.

Instead of embracing him, Santiago hits him with all his might, beating his hands on Juan-Miguel's chest. Juan-Miguel is so drunk it catches them off balance and they fall to the floor in a tangled heap. Eventually, they fall asleep, arms and legs wrapped around each other. As the sun peaks its head above the horizon, Santiago wakes with only with a vague memory of the previous night.

Santiago tries so hard to return to his work routine, but he cannot. Juan-Miguel has ruined the safe, but monotonous life he had before. Santiago struggles now to pull himself from his bed. He desperately searches through his sheets for a few fine hairs shed by Juan-Miguel. At times, he will get up only to drink water, or to urinate in the alley in front of his home. Days come and go and the wax from the candles soon covers his table. When he can't take it anymore, he pleads with his sister to ask her husband to hire him.

Santiago's brother-in-law finally relents to Clara's pleas. Still childless, they have an extra room for her brother. Until a baby arrives, that is. Santiago packs what little he owns and moves in with his sister and brother-in-law in El Fuente.

Two years pass since the time Santiago left his childhood village, and all that pained him. It is the night of Christmas Eve and Santiago and Clara go to Mass. Upon their return all the lights are on in their home. Clara, in a panic, thinks something must be wrong with her husband, and rushes inside. However, they are shocked and surprised to see Juan-Miguel and her husband, Ramon, talking at the kitchen table. As Juan-Miguel turns to greet them they notice he is holding a baby in his arms. Juan-Miguel, after small pleasantries, hands the baby to a startled Clara. He then motions Santiago into another room.

“Santiago, I've come to get you. You are coming home with me. My wife has died. She had cancer even before I married her and it was expected she would die soon. Her one wish was that we bring a child, her legacy, into this world before her death. I have fulfilled my promise to father her child, and now I am free. Your brother-in-law, Ramon, has agreed to raise the child with your sister, as their own.”

No words are spoken as Santiago packs to leave Clara and Ramon's home. As happy tears fill his sister's eyes, she hugs him with gratitude and wishes him well. As Santiago and Juan-Miguel walk arm-in-arm down the dusty dirt road, they hear a rustling in the air behind them. Turning around, they see nothing but the clear blue sky. Laughing, Juan-Miguel shrugs and says, “Must have been an angel.”

Santiago looks up and whispers, “Thank you.”

By Robert Greene

In the royal kingdom of Cobolt lived a rather spoiled prince. The prince was a handsome man with great strength and wit. He was a charmer, and all who knew him lavished in his eccentricity. “One would say in private that he could pass no mirror without peeking at his own beauty.

The prince sought scandalous favors of Clovis, who was the son of the royal pastry chef. .Clovis obliged all advances by the foolish prince, thus causing great rumors in the royal court. The prince, much to the pastry chef's dismay, called upon Clovis day and night.

The court also had an official royal messenger named Bartoner. He was a local farmer's son from the countryside. One day, he had to stay late since the court sessions ran long. It was well past midnight when it was finally turn to give the reports of the harvests and their progress. He was so tired that he knew he'd never make it back to the farm that night. He decided to secretly sleep in the royal stables.

He was awoken by stirring from within the stable. As he turned, he witnessed firsthand Clovis performing favors on the Prince.When the prince left to relieve himself, Bartoner took it upon himself to warn Clovis.

“I've seen these actions before,” said Bartoner, “the field hands indulge in your pleasure.” Clovis was infuriated by such spying and by such a commoner as Bartoner, the farm hand. “How dare you address me!” Said Clovis“Tomorrow I shall tell the prince and have you flogged.”

“Pray pity on you Clovis; I only come to heed you warning that the prince is to marry. I heard of it today.”

“Nonsense” said Clovis as he stormed from the stable.

However, the next day, it was announced that a grand feast to mark the courtship of the Prince was announced. Simultaneously, Clovis was banished by royal command to the kitchen until after the wedding.

During the royal reception, the prince requested raspberry tarts from the kitchen. It was reported that no raspberries were available. The prince used this news to publicly beat poor Clovis for failure to work in the kitchen. Clovis saw this outrage and from that point
forward had nothing but hatred for the prince. Frustrated and humiliated, Clovis ran to the stables and cried.

Bartoner was returning from royal court when he heard Clovis crying in the stables. He asked Clovis what was wrong. Clovis explained everything to him and admitted that Bartoner was right about the prince. Bartoner told Clovis not to worry and to go into town to have fresh berry tarts made by one of the cooks at the monastery. When the prince was presented the desserts, he accused Clovis of stealing them. However, Bartoner was present and stepped forward before the Prince. “It is I who brought these tarts, and therefore, I should be punished”

“Very well,” said the prince.

Bartoner was branded a knave and stripped of his duties. He collected his belongings from the farm where he lived, but had nowhere to go.

So grateful was Clovis that his heart realized his shame, and he asked Bartoner to live with him and his father as an apprentice in the pantry. Bartoner agreed that they would both study the profession together, and all were happy except the Prince.

Upon receiving his new bride to be, he realized he could not love her, for Clovis was his true heart's desire. Years later, upon the king's death, the prince summoned Clovis to a place in his court. Clovis, whose father had also passed on, was now co-pastry chef with his true love, Bartoner. Clovis refused the new king in order to remain at Bartoner's side, leaving the new king to be utterly miserable for life.

And this is why we have the word Barton for the meaning of “farm hand”.

THE END

Falleron came from a farming village in central Greece. It was considered rural and the people simple. As a child, he was happy and free. His long, curly locks of hair contrasted with his masculine demeanor, which gave him an angelic appeal. Falleron was quick-witted, agile, and moody, although popular among kids his age. Falleron was selective about the children with whom he played. Only through sheer loneliness did he develop a tolerance for a local neighbor's boy named Ibsen. Ibsen's characteristics were quite opposite to Falleron's: Ibsen was very tall, strong, dim witted, and jovial. Ibsen found Falleron to be a boy genius and followed him everywhere. Ibsen knew him to be mentally challenged at learning skills. “Falleron you lazy son with big dreams, you must learn to work the farm with me,” Falleron's father would often say while scolding Falleron's refusal to help him. Falleron, as sharp as he was, convinced Ibsen to help his father in exchange for friendship. Ibsen obeyed, and all were happy.

Falleron and Ibsen shared everything together. They watched the procession of Roman army men pass their village on the way to battle. Falleron and Ibsen snuck under the army tent, hid behind boxes, and watched the splendor of their ceremonies. They
stayed for hours because Falleron insisted; he was enraptured by it all. Perhaps, they stayed a little longer than they should have, because as the night wore on the liquor flowed heavily and an orgy began to take hold on the hedonistic foreigners. Ibsen and Falleron weren't naïve to such playful enjoyments, but to see it on such a massive scale was impressive.

“Falleron what are you doing?” said Ibsen as he watched him emerge from the shadows into the lascivious crowd. Falleron strolled among the intertwined bodies until a plump, balding, naked man took him by the hand and led him into the orgy. Falleron was stripped of his clothing and devoured by all who were around him. Ibsen watched in horror. It was well into dawn when Falleron emerged to a patiently waiting Ibsen. Falleron was never the same again. The taste of noble pleasures was now the desire that ate at Falleron.

For months afterwards, Falleron treated Ibsen poorly. He was even demeaning to the poor, loyal, dumb Ibsen. He teased Isben about his stutter and would often ask questions that would confuse him. It hurt Ibsen, but still he stayed loyal. To Ibsen, Falleron was pure beauty and intelligance, he was everything Ibsen wasn't. Although Ibsen quickly developed during puberty into his own manly beauty, this was often overshadowed by his lack of intelligence. Ibsen went to Falleron to solve every complexity that crossed his path, even though to anyone else the solutions would have been simple. Falleron grew tired of this responsibility and would yell at Ibsen for being so stupid.

By 16 years of age, Ibsen had developed into a striking, chiseled Adonis. He was the tallest and strongest man in the village. Falleron's beauty, although striking, paled in comparison to Ibsen's.

Greek village life grew tiring for Falleron. He wanted to shake such notions of himself as a simple Greek farmer's son and quickly applied himself to lessons which would get him accepted for study in Rome. Coming from a poor family, Falleron knew he would need to be creative in finding the funds needed. The opportunity fell into his path with the next visit of Roman nobles. Falleron knew that moment in the tent would be repeated again by the pedophilic nobles wanting to taste innocent youth. However, this time his entry was blocked by a guard. “Peasant boy, stay away,” flashed the guard with his sword. “I've only come with a message to your lord,” said Falleron, angered by the guard's denial. Falleron knew he had to get someone from inside the tent to hear him so to overrule the guard. “ Tell him that I can bring him a man of great endowment and physique,” Falleron shouted hoping to be overheard by a courtier inside. It was heard by the right set of ears, but from behind him the town mayor know an opportunity when he saw it. “Ah yes, Falleron, you come with pleasure for our guests?” said the local mayor. Falleron knew the mayor was a greedy thief that would take any opportunity away from him, but Falleron was desperate. “Yes,” said Falleron, “Ibsen has many wonders which I think would delight this crowd.””

“Then I shall wait here while you bring him to me, and we shall all go in as my guest. But remember, Falleron, you are a member of my party and shall follow my lead.” Falleron rushed back and found Ibsen in the field, working as Falleron should have been. “Come and make haste,” Falleron shouted. He was already annoyed with Ibsen and did not know why. Ibsen said a pleasant hello and obediently dropped what he was doing, can followed his companion. When they arrived, Falleron presented Ibsen to the waiting mayor. “Feast your eyes on this,” said Falleron and, without notice, tore away Ibsen's loincloth to reveal a large flaccid penis whose proportions were large even in its relaxed state. Ibsen, embarrassed and confused, quickly grabbed his cloth to cover himself. “He shall more than do, Falleron. Good job,” said the mayor as he started to escort them into the tent. Ibsen recalled their childhood foray into such a tent years ago and refused to go. Falleron, angry beat Ibsen furiously until he cried. “You shall do as I say or our friendship shall be no more! “ Falleron yelled. Ibsen wiped his face and, as always, obeyed

As the mayor was announced to the noble, Ibsen took center stage. “My fair Roman nobles and statesmen, I bring you a man of such exquisite endowment that you'll think I have dressed a stallion as a human.' The crowd, once boisterous, looked at the simple mayor in wonderment. Just then, Falleron pushed a sobbing Ibsen to the Mayor. “Feast
your eyes and mouths on this!” the mayor said. Taking his cue, Falleron pulled the loincloth once again from the sobbing Ibsen and revealed his treasure. The crowd gasped and immediately became aroused upon being touched, but only in action, not emotion, and the crowd fell into sexual excitement in which Ibsen inactively was a part of even to the point of ejaculation. Ibsen did not like it and didn't want any of this to happen.

Falleron, too, fell into the crowd but with a distinct mission of finding someone who would be more than useful to him. From that orgy, he had found a rich old merchant named Laudius who wanted to take him back to Rome as his lover. Under the guise of study, Falleron was released into the possession of the merchant and left for Rome immediately.

Ibsen knew nothing of this deal as he saw Falleron on a cart leaving the village. “Falleron!, Falleron!” cried Ibsen chasing after the cart. “Where are you going?” Falleron looked back and replied “Away, forever!” Ibsen ran to catch up to the cart and finally managed to hang on, only to be tossed by Falleron. “Obey me, Ibsen. Don't try and find me. Make a life for yourself for once!”