Alex & Clayton by John Simpson Page B

saw a little plaza with an open cafe and a bookstore. He crossed the street and headed for the bookstore to see if it was open.
    When he arrived, he saw the “Closed” sign. Looking through the window, he was disappointed to see that the magazine section was totally empty, which probably meant that the shop was closed for the season. Alex liked to read but hadn’t had much time for it over the last twenty-some years of his life. A bookstore right in town, only two blocks from his new home would have been ideal. He sighed, turned away, and headed home.
    Back in his new kitchen, he unpacked a few pots and pans and plates and silverware. He was going to cook a simple dinner of barbecue chicken, wild rice, and a nice big salad, which he loved. He got busy and an hour later was sitting down on his back patio eating a very satisfying dinner. As he sat there chewing his food, a strange sense of loneliness overcame Alex. This wasn’t a feeling that he was used to as before he’d always had friends or colleagues around him. This feeling was compounded by the fact that both of his parents were gone now, and he momentarily felt alone in a very large world.
    He forced himself to think of other things, finished eating, and cleaned up from dinner. He spent the next two hours unpacking the things that had been delivered by the moving company, as well as the boxes he had brought in the car. Most of his clothes were wrinkled, and he knew he’d have a couple hours of ironing to do before they could rest in his closet and dresser, waiting to be called upon to clothe their owner.
    When he finished the task, he looked around his house and realized just how much furniture he’d have to buy to finish his home. He couldn’t go shopping tomorrow because he had to wait at home for the technicians who would install his phone and cable for TV and Internet. The gas and water companies were also sending someone to take readings to begin his billing.
    He saw that it was almost ten o’clock and decided to sit on his patio a little longer and then turn in early. He was anxious to complete the inside of his house, and once his Internet was up and running, he would do a search for area furniture stores and look for sales.
     
     
    A CROSS town, Clayton was doing similar things. It took him less time to unpack because he had brought so much less than Alex. He, too, made plans for the arrival of various utilities and also planned to go furniture shopping later the next day or the following day. He sat on the balcony of his condo and watched the stars come out, but he became depressed when he thought about his life. So much had passed him by that he now found himself middle-aged and regretting not coming out in his youth and finding the love of a good man. He’d spent so much time trying to please others that he forgot to make sure that he enjoyed life as well.
    A tear slowly rolled down from each eye as he thought of his mother, now gone. At least she was with his father, and that made him slightly less unhappy at the thought. Was he too old now to find that good man for himself? Was the resort he moved to just for young guys and not men his age? Clayton went to bed very early that first night, more to escape from reality than to get any rest. It took him over two hours to get to sleep, and he failed to get any rest because he tossed and turned the entire night.
    When the first rays of the morning sun streamed through the blinds, he gave up and made a pot of coffee. At least he could enjoy that. As the coffee was brewing, he got into the shower and tried to get a jolt of energy from the water. It helped a little, and he dressed, poured his coffee, and sat out on his balcony. He was determined to get as much use out of it as he could before the cold months set in.
    As the sun of a new day rose above the horizon, a renewed sense of adventure and hope took hold of Clayton. He thought about his bookstore, and he gradually resumed planning what to do with