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Giddy Up By Susan Man, cowboy hat shopping by yourself was not all it was
cracked up to be, Justin thought as he wandered aimlessly through the Western
Wear store his hand clutched tightly to his cell phone. If only Chris had tagged along like he’d promised then things
wouldn’t seem so lonely. They’d be in the dressing room right now together,
trying on hats and boots and lacing up each others chaps laughing like the
best friends and lovers that they were but instead Chris had gone for a
manicure and pedicure. Leaving Justin a random “I’ll try and call ya later”
on his cell phone voice mail when he’d called to break their date. Smiling as the phone in his hand began to ring Justin waited
through one ringing chorus of “I Will Always Love You” before picking it up. “Chris?” He answered stopping in front of a display of
oversized belt buckles. “Nah bro it’s Lance.” “Oh.” Unable to hide the disappointment in his voice Justin
sighed. “Geez, don’t sound so excited.” “No it’s not that it’s just that I thought you were Chris.” “Well would it make you feel any better if I told you that I
was here to save your day?” “Huh?” Looking around the store Justin spotted Lance standing
next to a mechanical rodeo bull in the front of the store, a big red
ten-gallon hat on his head that he tipped at Justin with a toothy grin. Tucking his phone back in his pocket Justin half skipped half
galloped across the store, smoothing down his unruly curls with some spit on
his fingers the way his Mom used to do when he was in gradeschool. “Yay Lance when did you get here!” “I’ve been here the whole time!” Wrapping his arms around his
younger friend Lance spit out the curls that found their way into his mouth
from Justin’s oversized Afro. “This is so great,” holding Lance back to get a better look at
his mesmerizingly crossed eyes Justin continued “I mean it’s almost like
having Chris here, only not really because you’re not Chris and you’re not
really that much fun and I don’t really like talking with you. But other than
that you’re just like Chris!” Hugging Lance again Justin smiled. “Awww thanks JT!” Spitting out some curls again Lance grabbed
for Justin’s phone. “So whaddya say we forget all about Chris and have some
fun!” “YAY!” ~*~*~*~ Within a half an hour the two friends had gathered up armloads
of cowboy hats, chaps, boots, belts and the finest shirts emblazoned with sequins
and fringe to die for. While Justin made his way to the large dressing room on the
right Lance opted for a smaller dressing room in the middle. Looking up Lance noticed Justin’s bottom lip beginning to
quiver as tears filled his eyes. “What’s wrong little buddy?” “I just thought you’d want to come in the room with me.”
Looking sheepishly at the floor Justin dragged the toe of his shoe across the
polished wood. “Chris always does.” Pushing open the double swinging doors Justin’s eyes fluttered
up to meet Lances. Unsure of whether Lance was looking directly at him or
around him? It was always so hard to tell? “Aw shucks Justin, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
Grinning Lance readjusted the piles of clothing in his hands walking through
the double swinging doors as Justin fell into step behind him. ~*~*~*~ “So what’s first?” Setting his pile of clothing on a chair in
the corner Lance turned to find Justin already eagerly stripping off his
oversized basketball jersey and track pants. “C’mon I’ll help you.” Grabbing at Lance Justin ripped open
his fuchsia oxford shirt, buttons flying everywhere. “Ow my eye.” Grabbing at his eye Lance began to whimper. “It’s
burnnnnning.” “Here lemme see.” “No, get away from me.” Pushing at Justin with his free hand
Lance fell back against the dressing room wall sinking dramatically to the
ground with a howl. “I’ll probably never see again…..or I might end up cross eyed
or something.” “I wouldn’t worry about that.” Justin said under his breath as
he finally pulled Lances hand away from his eyes. “Just relax.” Stroking a hand over Lance’s brow Justin had a
sudden tingle in his stomach. The kind of tingle that up until now only Chris
had been able to illicit in him. “I’m sorry I’m ruining your day of shopping.” Lance whined. “You’re not ruining anything baby.” Justin replied. “Baby?” “Do you mind if I call you Baby Lance?” “Well Baby Lance sounds kind of funny?” “No not Baby Lance….just Baby, Lance.” “Ohhhh.” Blushing at his ignorance
Lance realized that he and Justin were sitting on the floor of the dressing
room- Justin in nothing but a pair of tight white underwear and sneakers and
Lance with his shirt ripped open to the waist and a pair of too tight jeans. “Well, my eye is feeling much better. I guess we’d better
start trying some of this stuff on.” Looking around at the piles of clothing,
hats and belts on the floor Lance slowly began to get up. Pulling Lance to his feet Justin flashed him a brilliant
smile. ~*~*~*~ Giggling the two bumped and thrashed around the dressing room
trying on everything they had brought in as well as some extra stuff they’d
requested from the salesclerk at the front desk. Standing back Lance admired himself in the full-length mirror. “Wow you know who would have thought that Id look so great in
pink satin and sequins!” “And don’t forget that hat.” Plopping the oversized red cowboy
hat onto Lances crusty spiked hair Justin rubbed his shoulders. “You look like a million bucks Baby.” Looking at the
reflection of them in the mirror Justin couldn’t believe he had not been able
to see it sooner, how perfect they looked together. The perfect couple. “You know what Lance…. We go together.” “Like rama-lama-lama-de-dip-de-ding-ding-ding-do?”
Lance answered seriously. Adjusting the cowboy hat so that it sat over his
now swollen red rimmed eye from the button incident. “No.” Slapping Lance’s back Justin rested his head on his
shoulder still admiring their reflection in the mirror. “I mean look at us.
Really look at us.” Studying them Lance smiled. “You know you’re right JT. I always thought we were from two
different worlds. But we’re not so different after all. I mean we both look
great in cowboy hats…..and um- I can’t think of anything else?” “I can’t either? But that’s still one more thing than Chris
and I have in common!” “Hey yeah good point!” Turning Lance pulled Justin into his
arms both men embracing tightly their hearts racing at their new found love
in of all places the dressing room of a Western Wear store. “You know what Baby?” Standing back Justin admired the man
before him. “Whaddya say we hit the town, do some country line dancing and
see what happens next?” “Justin, I say…..Giddy up!” The End |
