Rat Tale Ch.2 The Thought
It was a crazy thing to consider, but that's all we were doing, considering it. No decisions were made yet, I was just leaving myself open to possibilities. Gerald was always a little self conscious about himself, and the Internet never helped that. But he wasn't trying to date anyone anymore. It was true, no one wanted to look our way on a dating app, but on a site to get laid people like Gerald and I were seen as something rare. I might have been afraid for how easy Gerald got into the idea had I not known one thing. He was probably into it because for once it meant that people wanted him. To go from no one paying you attention to an entire base looking your way had to be exciting. But like I said, no decisions were made yet.
Of course I didn't want my boyfriend sleeping around, why would I? There were so many things that could go wrong, but at the same time I was able to stay open to the thought because I trusted Gerald. I just couldn't trust everyone else. Needless to say , I was thinking the wrong thoughts when I walked into the clinic that morning.
I only had 2 patients scheduled to come in that day, and one of them canceled. That only left Mason , a recovering drug addict who came into my care after a spiral of bad decisions led him into handcuffs. Being somewhat of a celebrity he was released without any major charges, but only under the condition of going through serious rehabilitation for his addictions. I was the doctor chosen to examine him after he was released from rehab. He was scheduled to see me every Friday morning at 8. He would often show up late, but I wasn't required to tell his parole officer just as long as he actually came in. I'd usually give him a good 30 minutes or so to walk in after 8 o'clock, and he'd always show up. In that 30 minutes I'd get everything set up so he could be in and out. Mason was not a talker.
It was 8:15 when Mason walked into the clinic. I escorted him back to my examination room and had him take a seat. He was distant as always. He never looked me in the eye or so much as said more than three words at a time. I knew he wasn't a criminal. Drug addiction was an ailment typically started by an outside problem. I tried to treat him as nicely as I could. Sure the guys face was plastered across ads and billboards, but seeing him every week I knew he had it rough.
Parker- your looking good today
She shrugged as I started to do his usual blood work.
Parker- you know I've seen you about 10 times now, and I still don't know much about you
Mason- don't need to
He clawed at his seat as I took his blood, he was a sensitive lion.
Parker- well I think it's a good thing you've kept yourself sober for so long , it must be hard
Mason- yea
It be a minute before I'd be done taking his blood. Mason was the wrong person to talk to about home life, but if he didn't feel like talking about himself I thought maybe he'd perk up if I talked about myself.
Parker- you know I saw something on the news last night
He didn't respond.
Parker- they passed this bill, it had so much stuff in it like water reduction laws, something about fire alarms , and even this one part about making it legal to have sex for money
He didn't turn his head, but his eyes moved if only for a moment before going back to look off into the distance.
Mason -I saw that
Parker - yea?
Mason- yea
He was still being distant which was fine. I was done taking his blood.
Parker - my boyfriend is thinking about trying it
Mason- I didn't know you were gay
More than three words , in fact it might have been a new record. I had him stand before giving him a cup.
Parker- Learn something new everyday I guess
I sent him on his way to the bathroom. While I waited for him to return Tyra , my work friend stopped by.
Tyra- how's he doing today
Parker- he broke his record
Tyra- poor guy , you know what happened to his boyfriend don't you
Parker- I don't get into gossip, you know that
Tyra - it's not gossip, but it was news , he was about to propose to the guy who wrote some movie and then he found him dead in the snow
Parker- I don't get into gossip Tyra, especially not at my patients expense
Tyra- can't hurt to know a little about the people we treat, that's all I'm saying
Parker - well he'll tell me what he wants me to know, or I'll look through his files
Tyra- you must be in a mood today
Parker- not at all , I just have something on my mind
Tyra- oh, do tell
Mason returned with his urine sample, and I had to send Tyra on her way. I knew she'd ask me again later.
Parker - alright your all set
Mason- you sure
It wasn't Like Mason to linger, but he was.
Parker- Unless you needed me to check you for something else?
He didn't say anything for a while, and I thought he was going to sit down, but then he spoke.
Mason- guess I'll see you next week
Parker - same time
He was still lingering. It's not like I was against talking with him , but I think he was fighting with himself to decide if it was worth it.
Mason- I wouldn't do it
Parker- do what
Mason- let your boyfriend do what he's thinking about, I wouldn't do it
Parker- oh , well we haven't decided on anything yet
Mason- well dont, keep him to yourself
Parker- thank you for the concern, but like I said we haven't made a decision
Mason - yea... well see you
He finally left the room, but only after leaving a dense air of gloom. It was odd for him to make small talk, but to stay after he was done and have even a small conversation was almost out of character. I shrugged it off though.
I spent the rest of the day treating walk ins and waiting. I was paid by the clinic to come in each day, but the real money came from returning patients of which I had virtually none. When I realized my wave of work was done for the day I went to the break room. I'd still have to run tests on a few blood samples and finish filling out paper work, but my day was basically done by 12. As I took out my lunch Tyra joined me at my table.
Tyra- how do you eat that stuff , what even is it
Parker- it's cold water stew , it's good for you
Tyra-It looks like someone threw up in your bowl
Parker- It's the only thing with more than 3 ingredients that Gerald knows how to cook
Tyra- Tell him to take a cooking class
Parker- You should try it , you might like it
Tyra- Or you could come with me across the street and eat some real food
Parker- We're doctors, how can you live on so much fast food
Tyra- Someone has to eat it
Parker- Well I'm not about to waste my stew
Tyra- Fine ,
She took a seat across from me.
Tyra- Don't think I forgot about this morning, what's on your mind "monkey boy"
Tyra- Well if you must know "tiger girl" Gerald has been thinking about a new... business venture
Tyra- What kind of "business venture"
Parker- It's a client based business
Tyra- But what's the business
I told Mason earlier, but I suppose it was harder to say to an actual friend and colleague.
Parker- Well you know how they legalized self prostitution
Tyra- Your kidding, Gerald wants to be in the sex business
Parker- Not so loud
I pleaded for her to lower her voice as we were not the only doctors in the room.
Tyra- So progressive of him
Parker- We haven't decided to go through with it yet
Tyra- Well what's the hold up
Parker- I want him to be safe , and I don't want our sex life or our relationship in general to go under water for something like this , I mean it's prostitution even if he wants to do it
Tyra- But your considering it
Parker- Yea we're open to it
Tyra- No that's not what I'm asking, are "you" open to it , would you yourself do it with him
Parker- Oh no, it's just Gerald
Tyra- Shame , I'd be your first customer
Parker- Ha, very funny
Tyra- If the two of you weren't bent arrows I'm sure there'd be plenty of women clawing over you
Parker- Yea well
I took a sip of my stew and watched Tyra's face contort as I swallowed it down.
Parker- We're just thinking about it right now
Tyra- You two have been together for how long?
Parker- 5 years going on 6
Tyra- Then you can handle it, just keep feelings to and for each other, and let everyone else be a dollar sign
Parker- I don't think it be that simple
Tyra- Everything is simple until we decide to make it complicated
Parker- I wasn't expecting such support from you on this
Tyra- What, did you want me to tell you not to do it? Your both adults if it's something you think you can do then why not go for it
Parker- Because what if it isn't something we can do, what if humans are right to be so particular about sex, maybe sharing it with people outside our relationship will diminish it
Tyra- Or your boyfriend gets to have a little fun, make some money, and you get to finally move
Parker- Anyone ever tell you how good you are at playing devil's advocate
Tyra- No need when I already know
Parker- How are you so sure this is a good idea when I'm still back tracking
Tyra- No one is monogamous anymore, it's normal to sleep around now days, so if it were me and my boy toy was interested in exploring I'd just make sure I was there with him
Parker- Speaking of "boy toy" , what ever happened to Paul
Tyra- Paul?
Parker- The guy you met at the dentist
Tyra- Oh we broke up
Parker- What? why? I thought you loved that guy
Tyra- I loved my dentist more
I finished my stew before getting back to work. I was starting to have some serious doubts before I spoke to Tyra, but after speaking with her I think I was more comfortable. All we needed were rules, and the first one would be for me to always be in the room. If anyone was going to touch Gerald I would be there to see it , and stop it if need be. Thinking about watching him with another guy actually turned me on. We could do it , I believed we could. Safety and the stability of our intimacy were the only concerns, and I was already thinking of ways to keep them.
When I got home that night I was eager to get back to the discussion. Gerald's parents were in the living room, so in the most casual fashion possible I avoided them and went straight for our bedroom. I knew Gerald was somewhere in the house because his car was in the driveway, but he wasn't in our room. I took the time I had to myself to get out of my work clothes then research a few sites talking about the business. To my surprise there were already a number of windows open. That's when Gerald walked in.
Gerald - oh , I didn't know you were home
Parker - I just got back , what's up with all the stuff on our laptop
I turned the screen so he could see.
Gerald - I was just doing some research
Parker- and what did you find
Gerald - I don't know , I'm not sure I can really do what we were talking about
Parker - what changed your mind
I pulled him in by his tail till he sat in my lap.
Gerald - There's just so much to it , a lot more than I thought, just finding people to do stuff with...do stuff for , it's like online dating again
Parker- But I thought we were "rare"
Gerald- Yea but , I don't know, I thought I'd like all the attention, finally having people want me
Parker- I want you
Gerald- I know but ... it's hard to explain, for one I'm not sure I'd even be able to give anyone what they'd pay for
Parker- Oh
Gerald- Yea , there's this one guy I saw online offering 500 dollars for a blow job , what if I give him bad head or something
I tried not to laugh but come on , I laughed my ass off.
Gerald- It's not funny
Parker- It's really funny
Gerald- I'm serious
Parker- OK, OK
He tried to stand up, but I kept him in my lap wrapping my arms around him in his greasy work clothes.
Parker- Look , let's slow down, if you don't want to do it then you don't have to , I'm happy if you don't , I'm just OK if you decide you want to
Gerald- So you don't care
Parker- Babe I'm happy to keep you to myself for as long as I can , it's up to you, I'm just along for the ride
He got out of my lap to get out of his clothes, he smelled like hot oil which made sense with him being a fry cook.
Parker- To be honest I've been thinking about it all day , part of me would like to move sooner and thinks it be hot seeing you put in work , but then there's the part of me that doesn't want us doing something like this to be some epic hill for us to fight
Gerald- Why would it be an "epic hill"
Parker- I can trust you not to fall for any of these guys you'd probably meet, sure, but I'm a doctor, I know what this line of work has a history of doing to people
Gerald- It wouldn't be work , it be ... it be fun that I'd get paid for
Parker- See that doesn't help , it's like if I look at it one way I can get into it for one reason but hate it for another, but if I look at it another way I still see good and bad
Gerald- That's how I feel
Parker- It's your body
Gerald- But we're together so we both should be on the same page about bringing other people into our sex life
Parker- This isn't going to feel right or wrong until we try it , is it?
Gerald- I think your right
Parker- So?
Gerald- Let's try it?