Chapter 4

A while later Glee trekked back to the house, the sun having set, the darkness settling in. He hoped that Barb had already left for the evening, but as he got to the porch he saw that both Barb and his mom were sitting there talking.

“Glee, are you okay?” asked his mom, seeing that his shirt pocket was torn.

“Only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action can freedom be won. The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days.” ¹⁴

His mom nodded and then excused herself, pouring the remainder of the contents of the wine bottle into Barb’s glass and then taking her own glass and empty bottle into the house, leaving the two of them on the porch.

“Sit with me, Glee. Please?”

Glee took a seat on the swing with Barb, keeping his distance without trying to make it obvious.

“Glee,” said Barb, trying something different, the wine giving her some courage, “We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day.” ¹⁵

Glee looked at her with surprise. This was the first time Barb had spoken to him this way.

“The flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly,”he replied back. ¹⁶

“Glee, I’m leaving in a few days. I have a job interview in Florida. I’m going to be moving there.”

A long few seconds passed.

“The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides,” he spoke, his eyes glistening a bit. ¹⁷

“That’s beautiful, Glee ... but I don’t recognize the source.”

Glee struggled as he always did when she pressed him in this manner. His heart was throbbing with the desire to respond, but his brain held him in check, much like the jockey on an over-exuberant racehorse pulling in the reins.

“Hep--hep---aghhh---Hepburn!” he managed to force it out.

“Oh Glee!” exclaimed Barb, her eyes tearing up too as she slid closer and hugged Glee.

Glee hugged her back, enjoying the feel of her hands on his back, her closeness, and the fresh smell of her hair.

“In my life there’s been heartache and pain. I don’t know if I can face it again. Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far. To change this lonely life.” ¹⁸

Barb disengaged and pulled back a bit, looking into Glee’s eyes as he continued.

“I wanna’ know what love is. I want you to show me. I wanna’ feel what love is. I know you can show me.” ¹⁹

Maybe it was the several glasses of wine that she had that evening. Maybe it was that she was leaving soon after having spent the better part of a decade with Glee daily. Or maybe it simply was the strong attraction that she felt toward the remarkable young man in front of her.

Barb leaned in and kissed Glee on the lips, then pulled back slightly, looking into Glee’s eyes.

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies, Glee.” ²⁰

“Love is when he gives you a piece of your soul, that you never knew was missing.” ²¹

A single tear trickled down her face.

“If you look closer, it’s easy to trace, the tracks of my tears,” he continued, “I need you, need you. Outside I’m masquerading. Inside my hope is fading.” ²²

“I’m sorry, Glee ... so sorry.”

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” A tear formed at the corner of his eye too while he tried to smile. ²³

The two embraced once more, the kiss full of bittersweet passion that raked across the heated coals of their souls. A couple of minutes later Barb pulled back from him. She stood up, a little unsteady from the wine, a little unsteady from the decision she just had made.

“Come with me, Glee,” she said quietly and held her hand out.

Glee got up and took Barb’s hand as she led him off the porch and toward the backyard.

“And I need you more than want you. And I want you for all time.” ²⁴

Barb’s hand tightened on Glee’s as she weaved her way through the landscaped backyard, darkened by the shadows from the trees. Walking past the in-ground pool, she snagged a beach towel off a lawn chair with her free hand. Her target was the far side of the shed where a small expanse of grass nestled between the wooden structure and privet hedge offered a modicum of privacy.