Part Eleven

'…I have come here to lose the smog…'

‘…don’t ask me I don’t give a damn, next stop is Vietnam…’ Daniel and Darren sang along with Country Joe and the Fish at the top of their voices as Daniel drove them through the city and out towards the Golden Gate bridge, both men taking particular delight in screaming out the Fish Cheer.

Daniel had got a Saturday off work and Darren had for once forsaken his college books so they decided to celebrate by going on a picnic, to a little place Daniel knew on the other side of the river.

‘…And it's five, six, seven, Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why, Whoopee! we're all gonna die…’

Laughing Daniel pounded out the beat on the steering wheel, shaking his head and stealing glances at Darren. Darren who looked so relaxed and happy, who just radiated his own very special brand of inner peace. So passionate one moment yet so serene the next.

Daniel found it hard now to think of his life before Darren, even though it had only been barely six weeks he couldn't imagine Darren *not* being part it.

He smiled as his eyes fell on his current state of attire. His faded, old favorite blue jeans had remained but his usually plain t-shirt had been replaced by a baggy, tye-dyed one. A present from Darren and the handiwork of his friend Cathy. Yeah Darren had certainly changed his life in more ways than one.

Turning off the main highway, he made his way along the coast road, He loved coming out to Sausalito. The beaches were less crowded than the ones where he usually surfed and the swell rougher presenting him with more of a challenge plus it was just nice to get out of the city sometimes, away from everything and just be.

Darren’s constant questioning about where they were going and his lack of recognition of their surroundings as Daniel had driven over the bridge confirmed his suspicions that he had never been here before and Dan was looking forward to sharing it’s simple delights with him.

Pulling into a free parking space down by the ferry terminal Daniel shut the engine off, signalling that they had arrived.

‘I hope you are feeling energetic cos it’s a bit of a trek up the stairways.’ Daniel got out and opened the side door to retrieve the picnic.

Darren joined him, taking the blanket from his hands and together they set off towards the hills.

Half an hour later they were sat down in the shade of a large tree, food spread out in front of them just happily munching, dipping into whatever they fancied. Daniel had put in some bottles of beer and although they were warm they still provided them with welcome refreshment.

‘This is lovely,’ Darren commented as he took a large bite out of his apple, ‘thank you for suggesting it.’

‘You’re very welcome.’ Daniel replied, laying back and lacing his hands behind his head.

Darren looked around furtively and when he was sure that no-one was in sight he bent down and very quickly placed a small kiss on Daniel’s lips.

Daniel sighed happily.

‘You know,’ Darren continued, lazily stroking a blade of long grass over Daniel’s face and neck, ‘I can see us living here one day, I like this place, it has a cool vibe.’

Daniel smirked at Darren’s description.

‘You out all day catching waves, me teaching at the local school.’

‘You reckon?’ Daniel turned to face him, propping himself up on one elbow.

‘Yep.’ Darren replied with certainty.

‘And just how would we support ourselves? Last I heard teachers weren’t exactly the best paid people on the planet.’

Undeterred in his daydream, Darren grinned cheekily and waved his apple around dismissively. ‘Haven’t you heard? All you need is love.’ At this he burst out laughing and reached for another beer.

‘You’ve got it all worked out haven’t you?’

Darren nodded and Daniel had to admit that fanciful as it seemed it *was* a nice daydream. To think that one day they would be able to live together just like any other normal couple.

‘I want to spend the rest of my life with you Daniel.’

‘How much have you had to drink?’ Daniel questioned, a sly smile on his face.

‘I’m serious.’

‘I know and I want to be with you always as well.’ His smile broke into a grin and he laid himself back down again. ‘Hey we could have matching rocking chairs on the porch.’

‘Arsehole.’ Darren retorted, obviously not very happy at Daniel’s attempts to make light of what had rapidly become a very serious conversation.

Seeing the look on Darren’s face made Daniel be the one to hurriedly glance around before pulling Darren on top of him and kissing away any semblance of an insult.

After lunch they gently wandered around in the woods for a while before making their way back down the steps and along the waterfront to the van.

‘Hey you know there is a music festival taking place next weekend in upstate New York? Wanna drive up there? It promises to be a real blast.’

‘I know,’ Darren replied sadly, ‘there are buses going up from Berkley.’

‘So…?’ Daniel enquired. He had seen the flyers and also heard people talking about it. It looked like it was going to be the event of the year.

‘I can’t. I would love to but I’ve already missed so much school this term, I can’t risk getting kicked out. College is all that is standing between me and the draft at the moment.’

‘Oh.’ Daniel could see his point. ‘Oh well I’m sure they’ll be other times.’ He was disappointed but wasn’t about to risk Darren’s deferment.

After this the talk naturally turned to music and then movies and before too long they were back within the city limits.

Feeling exhausted but pleasantly so they made their way up the stairs to Daniel’s rooms. He had just turned his key in the lock when a door two down from his opened and a grey-haired women came shuffling out.

‘Dan-i-el, Dan-i-el.’

‘Hi Mrs Kzyrskovski.’

‘Dan-i-el this came for you but the postman put it in my box instead of yours.’

Daniel took the letter from his neighbour.

‘I’m so sorry Dan-i-el.’

Daniel just nodded mutely and followed Darren into his room.

Numbly he sat on the bed and looked at the brown envelope in his hands.

‘Shit.’