Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
“Something else going on in the church, Joe?”
“No, Wyl, this is all for you guys. Our usual support group of fifty morphed into a crowd of three hundred and growing,” Joe led them through the attendees waiting to enter.
The din of conversation grew as Rod and Wyl were recognized, and a brief spate of applause broke out as they followed Joe into a side entrance.
Rod smoothed his jacket as they walked in the quiet hallway. “This kind of crowd is a surprise for us, Joe.”
Joe led them into a small room resembling a theater green room. “We changed the venue from the Fellowship Hall to the main sanctuary because of the crowd. This speaks to your popularity.”
Wyl found a mirror and fiddled with his bolo tie. “On Castro Street today, we got mobbed. Not in a bad way, but everyone wanted to meet us. We ate lunch at Harvey’s, and the diners applauded when we kissed.”
“We were amazed.” Rod tugged at Wyl’s shoulder and fixed his tie. “Should we expect that tonight?”
“You two are definitely a sensation. Cowboys are popular in gay culture, and Texans have a mystique that people like. You have both working in your favor. I guess I should have anticipated this kind of crowd.” Joe’s voice reflected his excitement at the unexpected increase in attendance.
“We usually sit in a double circle, spaced out so everyone can see, so it’s easy for all in the group to participate.
But our usual process won’t work with a crowd this large.
I plan to do a modified talk show format.
I’ll ask a few questions, and you two can answer. ”
“Sounds like a good plan to me, Joe. Rod, are you okay with that?”
“Sure.” Rod fiddled with his own tie. “Will the audience be able to ask questions at some point?”
“When I saw the size of the crowd, I recruited several volunteer ushers to help. They hand out slips of paper as people enter, and attendees can write questions on those slips. We’ll take a short twenty-minute break midway through the session and collect the questions in a box.
I’ll randomly draw out ten or so for you to answer. ”
“Is a meet-and-greet on the agenda?” Wyl asked. The original plan included mingling with the session participants after the session.
“Good question, Wyl. A reception follows in the Fellowship Hall after the main program. I called in a few favors so we’ll have enough refreshments.
Those who want to meet you can come through and shake your hand,” Joe said.
“My apologies that this exploded in terms of attendance. The reception may be a bit crowded, but there is a small platform at one end, so you can interact while still being visible to everyone.”
“Okay, Joe,” Rod said. “You take the lead, and we’ll follow.”
They waited in the hallway until exactly 7:00 p.m. Joe led them onto the main stage. The audience erupted into thunderous applause, whistles, catcalls, and hoots. Rod and Wyl turned and waved their cowboy hats, exciting the crowd more.
Joe walked to center stage. “Welcome, everyone,” he announced as the crowd quieted.
“Our usual support group meeting is slightly smaller than this,” he said, emphasizing the word as the crowd laughed.
“So, I changed the meeting format to accommodate the larger audience. Before we get started, let me welcome you to the weekly support group. We usually number about fifty. We welcome gay couples and gay singles, so everyone is invited to participate. We help anyone in the LGBT community who may be struggling with their orientation or fitting in with friends and coworkers. If any of you are interested in participating, see me after the program. We meet twice a month here at the church.”
Joe glanced first at Wyl, then at Rod. Each nodded.
“We’ve had many guest speakers, but none have generated the interest shown tonight.
If you haven’t seen the article in the Advocate and missed the cover and other photos, we are honored to have Wyl and Rod Sterling with us tonight.
They own a large ranch in West Texas near the small town of Blackfield.
They did a YouTube video outing themselves, and the video went viral.
After seeing the growing interest, I called Wyl and Rod and arranged to visit them on their ranch in West Texas.
I was blown away, and I am incredibly pleased that they agreed to come and speak to my small group… which grew into a substantial crowd.
“As for tonight, we will start with a modified talk show where I’ll ask questions and engage Rod and Wyl in conversation, then enjoy a short break, and then select a few questions from the audience.
The slips of paper you each received are for those questions.
If you need a pen, raise your hand, and the ushers will make sure you get one.
During the break, we will have boxes at the back where you can drop your questions.
“Now let me introduce our guests, who…based on this crowd…need no introduction.” Soft laughter flowed through the audience. “This is Wyl Sterling,” he motioned toward Wyl, “and this is Rod Sterling,” he gestured toward Rod.
The crowd again erupted into applause. The three took their seats, and the crowd quieted.
“As I said, I had the privilege of spending a few days with these two on their ranch in West Texas. I have met a lot of gay couples in my time, but I found something about these two intriguing. I think you will see what I mean. Wyl and Rod, let’s talk about how you met,” Joe opened the discussion.
“I enrolled in classes at the local community college,” Wyl said.
“Rod taught the music appreciation course, first on my schedule. I wasn’t too sure about a music class, but I’m a guitar player, so I figured it wouldn’t be too hard.
This man,” he thumbed at his husband, “made me feel welcome in the class despite my being older than the other students.”
“He sat in the back row,” Rod said. “The minute our eyes met, I knew I was in trouble. After class, he asked if the campus had a coffee shop. It doesn’t, but I invited him to have coffee with me in the break room.”
“It was like an employee mixing with the boss,” Wyl said. “But Rod explained that I would feel better about being a student if we could talk. He was right, but mostly because I found him very attractive.”
Rod turned toward the crowd as if sharing a secret. “The feeling was definitely mutual.”
The audience laughed.
“I guess you didn’t tell each other about your attraction,” Joe said. “Did that happen on your first date?”
“We never went out on an official first date,” Wyl said. “As part of the music course, I attended an orchestra concert in a neighboring city with Rod. We got to know one another on the drive to and from the concert.”
“That entire evening, it was all I could do to keep from touching Wyl. He would ask me questions during the concert by whispering in my ear. That warm breath and masculine scent almost drove me crazy.”
The audience laughed.
“We stopped for dinner before the concert, and our conversation naturally turned to music. I shared with Rod that I knew how to play the guitar.”
“I bought a guitar several years ago, intending to learn to play,” Rod said.
“I play many instruments, but the guitar is one instrument I never learned. That guitar sat in its case, lonely and unused for a couple of years. So, I wouldn’t feel guilty, I even put it in a place where I couldn’t see it,”
A chuckle waved through the audience.
“I offered to give him guitar lessons, and he jumped at that chance.” Wyl paused briefly to think. “Now that I think back, I wonder if he was more interested in learning the guitar or in me. Rod, you want to answer that?” Wyl winked at him.
“Let’s say the guitar gave me a good excuse to spend quality time with you,” he winked back. “Obviously, you used teaching me as a ruse to spend time with me, too. We never did finish that first lesson.”
The audience laughed.
“I had invited Rod to the ranch for a steak dinner. My brother happened to be gone that night. We had the place to ourselves.” Wyl imitated Rod’s way of sharing a secret with the audience.
More laughter.
“Much as I wanted to, I avoided touching him,” Rod said. “I found him very attractive, but he never hinted at being gay, so I tried to be extra cautious.”
“We got through dinner, and then we started the guitar lesson. I helped Rod tune his guitar, then sat across from him and demonstrated a simple scale.”
“Wyl asked me to play the scale, and he noticed my tension. He walked around behind me to give me a massage. I melted as his strong hands kneaded my shoulders.”
“The next thing I knew, I kissed Rod.”
The audience applauded.
“Do you mind sharing how each of you reacted to that unexpected kiss?” Joe said.
Wyl and Rod glanced at each other, and Rod nodded to Wyl.
“We were both shocked,” Wyl said. “I was shocked that I had kissed him, and he was also shocked. I bolted backward, not sure how he would react. We had developed a good friendship, but neither sought a commitment. Rod, seeing my reaction, packed his guitar and left.”
“We each thought the other was upset and didn’t communicate for two weeks, each waiting for the other to reach out,” Rod said. “Fortunately for me, Wyl confided in his brother, who talked some sense into him. He realized he wanted me during that period, but thought he had damaged our relationship.”
“My brother asked me if I loved Rod, and I said I didn’t know. Then he told me that people who are hurting want that hurt to go away, and I needed to tell Rod how I felt. He told me to go and get my man.”
“He came and got me and made me listen. In many ways, we’ve been a couple since that moment.” Rod reached for Wyl’s hand. The audience erupted in applause.
“So, did you know you loved each other then?” Joe asked.