After leaving my loved ones off the blog for awhile, I've decided to write about them once more. Adam -- fellow escort, also homosexual -- was excited/nervous to have his parents make an impromptu visit to Miami. It's not that they don't know he's gay -- they just don't know he's a sex worker.
I'd met them once before, and found them as affable and witty as Adam. Still, the poor parents had one hell of a flight, and were looking to unwind when we went out to dinner in the Brickell area of Downtown Miami.
It wasn't long before they both were pretty drunk.
Adam's father leaned in and looked me in the eye. "Are you and my son screwing?"
Adam's face went red, but I couldn't help but laugh. "No, we're not."
"Heaven forbid we ever meet anyone," Adam's mother added. "So, Julian, are you seeing anyone?"
"Oh, I see plenty of girls," I said, letting the irony of my statement hang in the air. "Just not one in particular. Still looking around, I guess. That's what your early twenties are for, right?"
Both Mom and Dad approved. I have no idea what lie Adam tell them about what he does for a living, but they didn't ask him about work at all. Me, however, they asked me plenty about what it's like working in freelance PR. Is that what Adam told them I do? Apparently so.
"It's pretty good," I said. "Clients can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but that's true of every business, isn't it? Still, I prefer freelance than working nine-to-five. I get to make my own hours and work as much or as little as I like."
"Isn't health insurance tough?" Mom asked.
"That's the one downside," I said. "Thankfully my coverage isn't too expensive. Still, I wouldn't mind a public option. I hope President Obama succeeds."
After I helped Adam make sure his parents got into a cab and safely over the Causeway into Miami Beach, we both had a laugh. He apologized for his father's blunt honesty and his mother's inquiries about my career in "freelance PR".
"Don't worry about it," I said. "They're funny as hell, man."
"Glad you think so. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm meeting a client nearby. I'll catch up with you later this week?"
"Sure," I said. "Sorry to hear about your working tonight."
"Why's that?" Adam asked.
"Well," I said, a smirk spreading across my lips, "you already ate fish once tonight."