It Takes All Kinds!
An adventure in lust, love and life
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The Elizabeth Clark Center for Trouble Teen had been a raging hell that day; irate parents, unkept runaways, smelling of the streets, and to put the icing of the cake the air conditioning unit, Curtis had been nursing, finally gave up the ghost. Fridays were usually his favorite day of the week, but this one needed a defibrillator in order to have a chance at being special. Like a mysterious answer to an inaudible prayer the phone rang.
“Hello, Elizabeth Clark Center for Trou...” Curtis answered.
“Hey Chile, cut that short it's me, Alex”.
“Hey Boi! Tell me you called to rescue me from the hands of the enemy”.
“Is it like that up in there today? What's the De-ga-ga?” Alex questioned.
“I opt not to recap this day for fear of permanent damage.”
“Well, Sweeeetie, Valda and Moli's friends Stephanie and Melaney, are on the way up from Hazelhurst and Valda says they are feeling, `That Way'.”
“That Way! What is that suppose to mean?”
“They want to experience the GAY BAR.”
“Oh, I don't know if I can stand `the bar' tonight. All those youngsters and no where to sit.”
“Well, meet us at Chili's for drinks, maybe that spirit will hit you after a couple of hits of the `T'.”
“Maybe some Tangueray might bring that on, but I don't know.”
“As for myself I'm needing the comfort of a man after a day of trying to trim some of the fat from my latest project, `My Man Cheated on Me, Before I Cheated on Him'.”
“Al, that sounds so ghetto.”
“Maybe that means this one will be the biggest hit ever.”
“Have you heard from Mali?”
“She had four boys waiting for various services when I talked to her. Let me hit her on the two-way and make her aware of the initiation of an adventure. I know she will not want to miss it.”
“You do that Alex and let me know where and when to meet you guys. I'm gonna go to the gym and adjust this attitude of mine before I get with you guys later.”
“Cool, that's what's up.”
Curtis placed the phone in the cradle and immediately called in his assistant. Geordie came in with his usually glamour; platinum hair, blue eyes (which actually came with the package), a faded pair of hip-hugger jeans that fit his perfect six size body like skin, platform boots and a DNKY T-shirt topped the ensemble.
”What is it boss?” Geordie asked.
“Geordie, I have something to give you.” Curtis said casually.
“Is it what I've been waiting for?” He said with a devilish smile on his face.
“You know that will never happen. You are too good for me.”
“Anyway!” Geordie gave Curtis the hand. “What?”
Driving his 2000 Mercury Navigator, Curtis arrived in the parking lot of the multi-complex that was the Y. M.C. A., with about fifteen minutes to spare. He took off running knowing it would take a little time to get to the locker room and get changed. About half way across the parking lot, he realized he had left his gym bag in the car. He ran back, hit the alarm and swung the door open, smack into this guy who was doing the same mad dash. To the guys blessing, he was tall enough that his knees kept the door from damaging the family jewels. Nevertheless, he still went to the ground. Curtis slammed the door and went to the guy's aid. Curtis put his bag under the guy's head and asked him, “Are you alright?”
The guy immediately commenced to apologizing. “Man, I'm so sorry. I should have been looking where I was going”.
I'm the one who's sorry. I was trying to get to step class before they start, the trainer will really embarrass you when you come in late”.
“I was running to same class, today's my first time in the class”.
“Well, if you're able, let's try to get there”.
Cool!” Curtis offered him his hand for assistance. In that instance he noticed how dark and handsome the guy was. Curtis hoped the guy didn't feel him staring. If he noticed, he didn't let on.
“My name is Kevin, I've seen you around the gym”, he said as they ran.
“My name is Curtis and I don't see anyone while I'm at the gym. I try to stay focused”. Kevin chuckled in a low sexy manner. They ran to the building together, in the locker room Curtis apologized again as they separated to get dress.
Kevin said, “Are you gonna help me get the steps in class?”
“I owe you at least that much after trying to kill you in the parking lot,” Kevin laughed that laugh again and punched Curtis on the shoulder as he turned to go to his locker. In the back of his mind Curtis thought, “Shit, I would hit a straight man with my car door, just my luck. Well at least he's cool.” The manly show of affection made Curtis assumed that Kevin was straight.
As Curtis looked around the room at the different faces: male, female, tall, short, dark, light, blue collar, white collar, no collar, homosexual, heterosexual, he thought, “ it takes all kinds to make a world and I'm so glad God has allowed me to be so comfortable with who I am.”
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Book Details
About the Book
It Takes All Kinds
As one reads this book it is the hope that each reader will find someone they know, or some experience that is similar to something that they have gone through. This book will show its readers new ways of looking at things that have been explained to them by people who did not actually have a point of reference to make any explanations. It may shine a light or a bit of understanding on facets of life that many people have never even considered. It Takes All Kinds will look at a few situations that could have happened at almost any point in time, with a subtle instructive insight. The circumstances that will be developed are plausible as well as intriguing.
Be prepared to be captivated by the realism of the characters, amused by the comedy in their antics, excited by the pragmatism of each scenario and teased by the sensuality of the various relationships from It Takes All Kinds; an adventure in lust, love and life.
About the Author
The author of this novel acknowledges the experience of writing this book as a gift from God. After being on dialysis for a few years, the time involved in the treatment was beginning to become exceedingly stressful. Having to sit relatively still for almost four hours had caused extreme anxiety. He asked God to give him what he needed to endure. The answer to his prayer was the characters, personalities, stories and title for the book, “It Takes All Kinds”. The product of a time when alternative lifestyle literature was just beginning to come to the forefront, this author was inspired to share the lives of characters he imagined, that could be part of anyone's life experience. The writings of E. Lynn Harris and James Earl Hardy were among his favorites and stood as motivation. He reflected on the experiences that made life challenging and rewarding for him and wrote them into a replica that any reader could relate their own experiences to, on some level. This author also made an attempt to “connect a few dots” that the “average” person may have misgivings about when it comes to alternative life styles. When his point actually was that each individual has some type of “alternative” when it comes to their lifestyles. There was once a button in circulation that said, “Why Be Normal?” who is to say what is normal. The author of “It Takes All Kinds” has not endeavored to recognize, represent, or romanticize all the various kinds of people it take to make up the wonderful world we are allowed to live in. He just wanted to highlight some for the experiences that make us all similar or at least get someone to wonder, “What Kind Am I?”.