Chapter Seven Dog Day Afternoon, dir. by Sidney Lumet #4
outside, a gust of wind cutting through the both of them. Since the gym is in the Presidio and therefore right on the northern shore of the Bay, there’s nothing to block the wind coming off the water. And without anything at all to cover
himself with, Eli catches every small slice of freezing-cold air Mother Nature has to offer. “Actually, yeah, a ride would
be nice.”
Peter leads him to a black car parked around the corner from the gym.
Eli is shivering by the time he makes it to the door, Peter opening it for him. He gives Peter his address in the Castro,
then relaxes as the seat underneath him begins to warm his butt. It’s a nice car, something that he’d expect someone in the
Bay Area who works a tech job to drive.
But more importantly, it’s not a Tesla.
The real surprise comes when the music from Peter’s phone begins to auto-play and the album artwork for a Miles Davis record
comes up, the smooth sounds of a saxophone playing through the speakers.
“Jazz?” Eli stares.
“What? Is that... weird?”
“No, just... unexpected.”
“What kind of music do I look like I listen to?” Peter asks.
Eli doesn’t really have an answer for him. Partially because neither of them has brought up their taste in music before.
“I don’t actually know.”
“Jazz is nice, relaxing under the right circumstances.”
Of course as Peter says that the song erupts into a fury of drums, saxophone, trumpets, and piano.
Peter lowers the volume a bit. “And other times it’s chaotic and messy and just what I need.”
“I bet you’d love La La Land .”
“What’s that?” Peter dares to ask.
“You haven’t heard of La La Land ?”
Peter shakes his head.
“Well... it’s a love story about a jazz musician and an actress. There’s a lot of love for the genre throughout.”
“I’ll bookmark it, then,” Peter says, throwing on his turn signal. The darkness of the Presidio makes it difficult to see
where they’re going at times, but Peter seems familiar with the route. “You really like movies, huh?”
“Is that such a bad thing?” Eli asks him, feigning offense with his tone.
“No, no. Not at all, I didn’t mean for it to—” Then Peter catches the look that Eli gives him out of the corner of his eye.
“You’re messing with me again, aren’t you?”
“You’re learning.”
“You talk about them a lot. Movies.”
“Yeah, I mean, I guess I love them. My dad used to take me to the theater at least once a week when I was growing up. We lived
on Balboa, a block away from the theater, and they played a ton of classics, plus some bigger new stuff.”
“That sounds really nice, actually.”
“He thought it was important to see whatever we could on the big screen. He’d say, ‘The TV is fine, but the theater is really where you want to be!’ like an old Hollywood guy.”
“Did he work in movies or something?”
“Nah, he taught at the college. English. He just always had a love for film.”
“Do you still do the movie thing with him? Now that you’re older?”
“Well, that’d be pretty hard since he’s dead.”
Peter brakes fast to avoid hitting the car in front of him, earning an aggressive honk from the car behind them. “Oh, God!
Eli, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!”
“Why?”
“Because I asked about your dad, and he’s dead, and...” Peter pauses. “I don’t know, I’m just sorry.”
“But you couldn’t have known—this is literally the first time I’ve brought my dad up.”
“I know, but...”
“But...” Eli urges. He wants Peter to see the uselessness of constantly apologizing for something that couldn’t possibly
be his fault.
“B-but...” Peter stammers. “Nothing. I’m sorry.”
“I’m going to have to start charging you for all these apologies. Only people from the Bay Area are allowed to say sorry as much as you do.”
“I’ll have to Venmo you,” Peter says, changing lanes to avoid the bus ahead of them.
“Just buy dinner next time.”
“Speaking of, do you have any ideas for our next ‘date’?” Peter asks.
“That eager?”
“I mean, I like spending time with you,” Peter admits. “And these dates have been pretty fun. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t get out very often. I don’t have many friends. Actually... I don’t have any friends.”
Eli can’t help but smile at the man. There’s something so earnest about Peter, so... sweet.
“What about the people at the gym?” Eli asks. “They seemed to like you.”
“Yeah, but they aren’t my friends. They’re just being nice because I go to the gym.”
Eli wants to press, but he isn’t quite sure how. Then he figures maybe it’s best to leave Peter alone, at least for the time
being.
“Well, you know, if you’d like to be friends after this is done, I wouldn’t object,” he says without thinking. It’s not like
it’d be a conflict of interest, and the time he’s spent with Peter has been fun.
“Yeah?”
“Yes, Peter. I would.” Eli smiles at him.
“Thanks, Eli,” Peter says just as they pull up in front of Eli’s building.
“And another thing?” Eli continues.
“Yes?”
“Let’s start meeting for lunch.”
“Why?”
“That’s something that couples do. Just a few times a week. But let’s start tomorrow. You know where I work, and I take my
lunches at noon.”
“Okay. I usually work through mine since I’m remote, but we can try it.”
“And...” Eli braces himself. “My mom wants to meet you.”
Peter can’t hide the shock in his voice. “Your mom?”
“I might’ve lied and said we’re seeing each other to get her off my back,” Eli explains. “But I figured it might be good as
a test of sorts. Put the things you’ve learned into practice.”
“I don’t like how much sense that makes.”
“Yeah, you’re telling me.” Eli unbuckles his seat belt.
“Actually, I have an idea,” Peter begins. “It’s not until Halloween, though.”
“Give it to me.”
“My office has these monthly outings where the SF and Oakland teams all hang out. I’ve never been because... well, you
know.”
Eli indeed does know.
“But... if you’d want to go with me, that might be fun?”
“Look at you, branching out.” Eli beams.
“I think your lessons are working already.”
“What can I say, I’m a great teacher.” Eli dares to open the car door, letting the cold air hit his skin, goose bumps appearing
in an instant. “We can go out this weekend if you’re free?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
“Good night, Peter.”
“Night, Eli.”
Eli climbs out of the car and marches up the steps to his building, digging his keys out of his backpack to slip them into
the front door. Through the glass of the front door, he can see Peter waiting for him. Eli waves at him, and Peter waves back
before he drives off.
His body might ache, he’s in desperate need of the longest shower of his life, and he embarrassed himself in front of half a dozen ten-year-olds, but Eli can’t help but consider the night a success.
Bit by bit, he’s peeling back Peter’s layers. He can see the real man underneath blossoming into the person that he really
is.
Slowly but surely, he’s getting to know the real Peter Park.
And Eli likes what he sees.