Over-the-Counter Encounter
9. Brewing
By the summer of 1995, Matt and Dean had made eight trips to Provincetown to Pussy Haven. They looked forward to the dancing, biking, kiting, Russell's intemperate moods, Leslie and Ginger's squabbling, sun-tea, cats and those glorious sunsets. But after two day on the Cape, Matt came down with a cold, which he could not shake. He was even running a fever. This had happened before about two years earlier - not on vacation - but back in New Jersey. Matt had cold sweats one night; and Dean paced the floor. But, it went away, Matt only missing a few days from work. But, bad luck to have this reoccur on vacation.
Dean was an old fussbudget and nagged at Matt to stay warm, stay in bed and to drink quarts of water or better still, sun tea. Russell was annoyed because he depended on Dean and Matt to entertain him. With the dynamic pair wrapped about this "damn" cold, Russell was gloomier than usual.
On the fifth day, Matt had the cold night sweats. Dean was worried and wanted him to see the doctor.
"Bundle up and I'll drive you over," said Dean,
"No," said Matt, "I'm not an invalid. It's not that far. Let's just walk down there! The air will do me good."
"I don't think so," said Dean.
"Well, either I walk or I don't go!"
So, reluctantly, Dean helped him dress and they marched down the hill to the doctor's office. Leslie and Ginger were very anxious. They paced about the porch, trying to ignore Russell, who liked to sit there naked attracting the attention of the men in the town houses across the way. Finally, Ginger could not take the suspense and worked in the garden, preening her roses. It was getting late. Dean and Matt were gone for three hours.
"Here they come now," said Leslie from the porch.
Ginger shaded her eyes and strained to see,
"Are you sure?" she said.
"Positive. I'd know Dean's swishy walk anywhere."
Russ sat up and stretched to see. Leslie threw him a towel.
"Will you cover that thing up?" she said. "We don't need to see it."
"I don't need you to see it," said Russ. "The show was for the brawny guy in the place across the street."
"I hope Matt's OK," said Ginger picking up her roses, joining Leslie on the porch.
Dean and Matt climbed up the path. Matt was coughing and could barely stand. He looked terrible. Dean needed to help him walk.
"What did the doctor say?" said Leslie.
"You shouldn't have walked," said Ginger. "We should have driven you."
"Tell that to Mr. Indestructible here," said Dean
Matt made it to a porch chair and sat coughing without mercy.
"He's running a fever," said Dean.
"What did the doctor say?" said Leslie.
"Nothing," said Matt. "Says I have a bad cold - a summer cold."
"Those are the worst," said Russ. "I once had one that lasted two full weeks - then it took me the rest of the summer to shake it."
They all looked at him with contempt. He shut up.
"What a rotten shame," said Ginger. "It'll spoil your vacation."
"Well, if you remember last year Dean was sick - stomach virus," said Leslie.
"That wasn't last year," said Ginger. "That was the year before. . ."
"Three years ago," said Dean. "And Matt caught it as well."
"I'll be OK," said Matt. "Let me just go an lie down for a while. Lambchop, you stay here. I don't want you to get this."
"Like I won't get it. I get every little fucking germ you get. When I agreed to love you and share your ass, I guess I agreed to share everything."
"Well, humor me," said Matt. "Just stay here. I'll take some NyQuil and conk out for a bit."
Matt went inside holding his hand up preventing Dean from following.
"Well," said Ginger, "he'll be OK. These things happen. Maybe we should take our minds off it and play some cards or maybe a movie."
"T-Dance," said Russ. "Let's go Dean."
"Russ, I'm not going to the T-Dance now."
"But you never miss a T-Dance," he said.
"Russell Hay," said Leslie. "Don't you have any morsel of compassion or concern. Your best friend's hubby is sick; and you're trying to pull him away to a sex auction."
"What's you point?" said Russ. "Matt would want him to go. Dean only drewls and doesn’t touch a thing, as married as he is!"
"No," said Ginger, "I think cards will be a calmer sport. It's a cool afternoon. We could enjoy the sea-breeze - and drink lemon-squashes."
"Maybe a movie," said Leslie. "Jodie Foster is in that new movie . . .the Carl Sagen one."
"No way," said Russ. "I'm not sitting in a small movie theatre filled wall to wall with Lesbians all panting after Jodie Foster. 'It just ain't fittin' It ain't fittin' Hm! Hm!’"
"Well Butterfly McQueen," said Ginger, "now you know how we feel when you divas swoon over Cruise or Broderick."
"Maybe cards would be better," said Leslie. "And I'll whip up some of my famous fried eggs."
"In lard - hell you will," said Russ. "Just the smell of those things make me wanna hurl, girl! C'mon, Dean come to the T-Dance."
"You go," said Dean. "Give me a report on Green-shorts guy. You know the one."
"There is no other. Aw, I'll be lonely."
"You'll get over it. I just want to sit here and rest. That walk down to the infirmary was tiring. I didn't think Matt was going to make it. He stopped in front of the Barbie Doll house and retched his guts out. I thought Ken was in imminent danger. We sat for a long time on the curb."
"What did the doctor do?" said Ginger.
"Well, I'm out of here," said Russ.
"Go, already," said Dean. "Go, and have a good time. I'm sure Matt will be OK in a day or so."
Russ slipped his bathing suit and a tight tank top on; then strut down the hill.
"So . . .?" said Ginger.
"So what?" said Dean.
"What did the doctor do, really?"
"What do you mean 'really'? He said it was a bad summer cold. He didn't prescribe anything. Told him to drink plenty of liquids and get to bed."
"I knew we should have driven you guys down there," said Ginger. "Well, dear, take this rose."
"What for?" said Dean.
"I don't know. Because it's a beautiful thing; and that's why we live here in Provincetown for the beauty of it. Whenever Les here feels down or tired I always go to the garden and get her a rose."
"She does, believe me, she does. It doesn't matter that they make me sneeze like hell or that they have thorns or there's sometimes a creepy-crawlers in them. She plunks one down in my lap anyway."
Dean looked at the rose intensely.
"Well, its beautiful Ginger," he said. "And since its what you do for the one you love most, I take it as a real kindness. And you know I will give it Matt. I'll put it by his bedside so he sees it when he awakes."
Dean got up and stretched. He looked out at the sea.
"It is so restful here," he said. "That sun penetrates me like a warm hug. Oh, how many summers have we spent our vacations here with you. And, although we love the dancing and dining and men - men - men - it's here on your porch that I love best. I have a memory."
"Tell Mama," said Ginger.
"Yes, it'll be better than cards."
"Well," said Dean, "when you all went to bed on the first . . .or was it the second . . yes, the second night, Matt and I crept quietly out here on the porch - right on this very spot and did it. I remember the warm evening breeze and cricket sounds. Then, there was this wonderful coconut aroma - his aroma - my Matt. That soap was the most wonderful perfume imaginable. We held each other for an eternity. Only the rustle of your cats brought us back to land fall."
"Yes, we know," said Leslie.
"We had a good view of you guys from the porch that night," said Ginger.
"I said to Ginger, our Deano has found a man of his own - a good man - a strong man - one that will give him what we have given each other."
"Yes," said Dean. "It is so right - so very right with us. It has been and it shall always be. Oh, we have our moments. We've had some whopping arguments -"
"And good make up sex," said Leslie.
"Great make up sex," said Dean. "Sometimes he's such an asshole - so stubborn. He forced himself to walk up the hill. I told him to wait and I'd go get the car. But, no. He held on to me and made it hard for both of us rather than to admit he's sick and needs a few days rest. And all he could do is apologize for ruining my time. But you know, as long as he is with me, I am right - so very right. It has been and it shall always be."
There was the sound of heavy coughing from the house. It was very hard and followed by moans.
"I'll take a look," said Ginger. "I'll make sure he's got everything he needs."
Ginger went in.
"I can't believe that asshole Russ," said Leslie. "How long have you known him?"
"My sister? Since I don't know. There's always been a Russ. He'll never change. He's into only one thing, Russ. But Russ is Russ. If you know that and realized that he's not going to change, then you just let him do what he wants."
"Well, he's damn irresponsible," she said.
Ginger returned.
"I think maybe, Dean honey," she said. "I think we ought to take Matt home."
"Home? Why?"
"Well, I'm not a nurse or anything - but, his sheets are completely drenched with sweat. I mean wringing wet."
"Shit!" said Dean entering the house.
"If he's real sick, he shouldn't travel," said Leslie.
"He looks real, real sick. He's gasping for air."
"Shit!" said Dean returning. "What do I do? Who do we call?"
"Ginger, how much room do we have on the card?"
"Enough, I'll take care of it."
"What?" said Dean.
"We'll fly him out to Logan," said Leslie. "It's the fastest way."
"But . . . "
"No buts."
Ginger made the arrangement, while Dean tried to pull himself together. He went to Matt's side. Matt was gasping for air. His sheets were drenched, his face swamped in sweat. There was a pathetic look in his eyes - a helpless look, beyond telling.
"Not this, God," muttered Dean, moping Matt's head with a cool cloth. "Please, please, not this!"
The glorious sunset was not noticed that evening, as Matt was medevac'd to Logan and then flown back to New Jersey.