"I'd do it for free, and I'm sure I could reserve the portrait room for this."I'd do it for free, and I'm sure I could reserve the portrait room for this. Plus I'm sure we can find a company who would print the calendar for real cheap." Bryan knew I was a photography buff. I'd taken a few classes, and now I was very thankful I had so I could be in this position. "Okay. I'll talk to some of the guys and to some people at the church and see what they all think," Bryan said. "Okay." * * * To my knowledge, Bryan didn't know I was gay. I'm sure he suspected since I'd never dated a girl before, and i never participated in the "locker room talk" about women. I rarely told my straight friends about my sexual orientation because I was worried about what they'd think. I'd also not told Bryan for another reason: his deep religious faith. People like that easily turned off to homosexuals. It was a few days before I heard any response to my offer. "Hey, Lance," Bryan called from my doorway. "Yeah?" I said, looking up from my desk. "Your calendar idea was a big hit, especially with the girls," Bryan said. "Really?" "For the most part," Bryan admitted. "There were a few people who didn't like it very much, but they're willing to look at the final product, so we'll go ahead with it." "Great." "Five guys in the group said they'd pose, and I will too," Bryan said. He handed me a slip of paper. "Here are their names and phone numbers. I think you know most of them." A quick scan revealed that I did. I nodded. "Is six okay?" Bryan asked. "Oh, sure," I answered. "I'm sure I can figure out a way to fill 12 months with six of you." "Good." "I'll set up some times in the studio and then I'll get back to you," I said. "Okay. See ya." After Bryan left I looked at the list again and smiled. Three of they guys I was really familiar with. One of them I didn't think I'd ever met while the other I had a vague mental picture of. I put them in order by placing numbers next to each of their names. I wrote Bryan's name on the list. Bryan ended up third after much deliberation. I had thought he should go first to help encourage the others, but then I decided to wait on him. I'd seen him naked in the showers already so there wouldn't be surprises there. |