On New Year's Eve, a man with his new lady drives up to this house, across the street where a party is in progress. The couple are Ron and Nancy, the couple are entering Nancy's friend, Rachel house. Nancy introduces Ron around, the women find him irresistible and the men feels he is all right and good for her, though Nancy in her late 20s, haven't dated anyone in over a year.
During the party, almost countdown into the New Year, a childhood friend of Nancy name Chris, who is gay, walks up to Ron greeting, "Hi, how do you do! My name is Chris (holding his hand out in friendship). I am old friend of Nancy and she told me all about you." Ron replies, "She has (shaking Chris hand.)?" Chris says, "That's right, but have we met somewhere before, perhaps at the Carrot Room, a known gay spot." Ron says, "Not me, got me confused with someone else." Chris says, "My bad, you do remind me of this fellow that was there talking and drinking with my friend Anthony a couple of weeks ago and the two of y'all went into a bathroom stall there to get freaky." Perspiring, Ron says, "You have to pardon me." Ron leaving with Chris telling him, "You can't hide from yourself sweetie!"
After the countdown into the new year, with everyone congratulating, Chris walks up to Ron and Nancy saying, "Happy New Years, you two!" Ron says, "You too." Nancy tells Chris, "And happy New Years to you too honey. We are about to leave now." Chris says, "Oh great, well Ron, I looking forward to meeting you again big man." Ron says, "Likewise!" Chris tells Nancy, "And as for you, Miss Thing! Don't you go rushing to the altar 'til you really know the groom?" Ron is getting agitated telling Nancy, "I'm going to warm the car." Then he sneering at Chris. Nancy tells Chris, "I don't think Ron likes you, but that's okay, I am going to always love you." Chris replies, "I know and same here with me, but please do me a favor and check out the big black mole on his upper right thigh and tell him I can't wait to see him again as usual at the Carrot Room." Chris giving her a hug and a kiss, Nancy is wondering, "Ron hanging in the Carrot Room, I don't think so!"
Hours later at her apartment in her bedroom, Nancy awakens with Ron next to her, he also awakens, smiling at her and getting out of bed going to the bathroom with Nancy smiling 'til she happens to notice the big black mole on the right thigh of Ron, just as Chris described to her. She shockingly says "OH MY GOSH!"
Later, Ron and Nancy are sitting at the dining table, eating their New Year's breakfast. Ron is noticing Nancy's silence, he says her, "here we are the two of us, on this wonderful New Year's morning, sitting here eating this delicious breakfast, but we are sitting here in total silence. You barely spoke one word to me after I came out of the bathroom. What's wrong sweetheart, talk to me! Tell me what's on your mind." Nancy looks at Ron, she is shaking her head telling him, "Last night before we left Rachel, Chris told me something!" Ron Says, "Oh him." "Yeah, him" Said Nancy, "he told me something really fascinating about you." Ron sarcastically saying, "Yeah, I remember him telling you not to go rushing to the altar to you really know the groom, ha-ha-ha, very funny!" Nancy says, "he also told me something else and it was about you I never imagined, you at the Carrot Room. I have known Chris since we were kids in elementary school, not once has he ever lied to me or even deceived me. He always been straight up and very honest with me, even if the truth was very brutal. I also remembered the first time he mentioned his homosexuality to me, along with his first sexual experience. When he told me he seen you at the Carrot Room, which is a known gay spot and he tells me everything that goes on in there, even I stepped foot inside the Carrot with him out of curiosity. (Ron is beginning to worry) I figured to myself, Ron could have stopped into the Carrot Room once to check out the place, because it looks nice and comfy from the outside before entering, going in to have a drink, chill out and listen to the music. What's crazy, Chris mentions the black mole on upper right thigh and he mentions you being there as usual, as if you were a regular. That really got me tripping when I saw the mole as being described, question is how does Chris know about the mole. I glad you wore a condom while we were making love, Ron. Are there any parts of your history I ought to know about, Ron?" Ron is speechless and Nancy asks him, "Who are you, Ron? What kind of a man you are? Who did I make love to? What is your true sexuality, Ron? Are you straight, gay or bisexual? Or maybe you might be sexually confused or on the down low gay." Ron thinking of what to tell her, "Uh-uh!" Nancy tells him, "Uh-uh-uh-uh! Can't give me an answer! If you were to ask me the same question about who I am, I would say I'm Nancy Parks—a single, straight, 29-year-old black woman with her own place and a full-time job. I enjoy the company and intimacy of men and hope to marry and raise a family. Additionally, I am soon to be the ex-sweetheart of Ron Taylor. Ron tells her, "Listen Nancy, I'm understand you're upset with me. I am going to level with you and tell you the truth." Nancy says, "the truth? About you engaging in sex with other men." Taking a breather, Ron tells her, "Yes I had sex with other men in the past, but I stop!" Nancy tells him, "What you omitted from the start, or perhaps didn't plan to disclose, assuming it was trivial, particularly concerning my health. I'll tell you what will soon be history: us, my role as your partner. Goodbye, Ron! We're done." Ron tells her, "We don't have to call it quits, Nancy." Nancy tells him, "I'm not ending our relationship because of your past relationships with other men, Ron. It's because you hid that part of your life from me, assuming I'd never discover the truth. You made me feel deceived. Perhaps in the future, I might be able to forgive you and consider starting over. For now, I need time to clear my head and distance myself from you, until I can sort things out." Ron realizes she is serious, instead of pleading with her, he decides to leave, hoping she will give him another chance.
Before he takes his leave, Ron takes one glance at Nancy, hoping she will forgive him and let him stay. She tells him, "Happy New Year, Ron!" Ron replies, "Happy New Year, Nancy." Nancy shuts the door, calls Chris, and informs him that she had to let go. Chris tells her, "It was never my intention for you to break up with Ron, but rather to alert you and make you aware of the kind of person he is, as I was concerned for you." Nancy understands, she and Chris talked some more.
Nancy has a new man in her life and his is named Tyrone, he works as a bank manager and yes, he is straight. Meanwhile, Ron has been dating other women, and it remains uncertain whether they are aware of his history with other men.
This chapter is an extended version of "Nancy's New Man" from Wilder Brounson's "My Collection of Short Stories."
NOTE: Image is stock-free photo
THE END
