Page 127 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Is a meet-and-greet on the agenda?” Wyl asked. The original plan included mingling with the session participants after the session.
“Good question, Wyl. A reception follows in the Fellowship Hall after the main program. I called in a few favors so we’ll have enough refreshments. Those who want to meet you can come through and shake your hand,” Joe said. “My apologies that this exploded in terms of attendance. The reception may be a bit crowded, but there is a small platform at one end, so you can interact while still being visible to everyone.”
“Okay, Joe,” Rod said. “You take the lead, and we’ll follow.”
They waited in the hallway until exactly 7:00 p.m. Joe led them onto the main stage. The audience erupted into thunderous applause, whistles, catcalls, and hoots. Rod and Wyl turned and waved their cowboy hats, exciting the crowd more.
Joe walked to center stage. “Welcome, everyone,” he announced as the crowd quieted. “Our usual support group meeting isslightlysmaller than this,” he said, emphasizing the word as the crowd laughed. “So, I changed the meeting format to accommodate the larger audience. Before we get started, let me welcome you to the weekly support group. We usually number about fifty. We welcome gay couples and gay singles, so everyone is invited to participate. We help anyone in the LGBT community who may be struggling with their orientation or fitting in with friends and coworkers. If any of you are interested in participating, see me after the program. We meet twice a month here at the church.”
Joe glanced first at Wyl, then at Rod. Each nodded.
“We’ve had many guest speakers, but none have generated the interest shown tonight. If you haven’t seen the article in the Advocate and missed the cover and other photos, we are honored to have Wyl and Rod Sterling with us tonight. They own a large ranch in West Texas near the small town of Blackfield. They did a YouTube video outing themselves, and the video went viral. After seeing the growing interest, I called Wyl and Rod and arranged to visit them on their ranch in West Texas. I was blown away, and I am incredibly pleased that they agreed to come and speak to my small group…which grew into a substantial crowd.
“As for tonight, we will start with a modified talk show where I’ll ask questions and engage Rod and Wyl in conversation, then enjoy a short break, and then select a few questions from the audience. The slips of paper you each received are for those questions. If you need a pen, raise your hand, and the ushers will make sure you get one. During the break, we will have boxes at the back where you can drop your questions.
“Now let me introduce our guests, who…based on this crowd…need no introduction.” Soft laughter flowed through the audience. “This is Wyl Sterling,” he motioned toward Wyl, “and this is Rod Sterling,” he gestured toward Rod.
The crowd again erupted into applause. The three took their seats, and the crowd quieted.
“As I said, I had the privilege of spending a few days with these two on their ranch in West Texas. I have met a lot of gay couples in my time, but I found something about these two intriguing. I think you will see what I mean. Wyl and Rod, let’s talk about how you met,” Joe opened the discussion.
“I enrolled in classes at the local community college,” Wyl said. “Rod taught the music appreciation course, first on my schedule. I wasn’t too sure about a music class, but I’m a guitar player, so I figured it wouldn’t be too hard. This man,” he thumbed at his husband, “made me feel welcome in the class despite my being older than the other students.”
“He sat in the back row,” Rod said. “The minute our eyes met, I knew I was in trouble. After class, he asked if the campus had a coffee shop. It doesn’t, but I invited him to have coffee with me in the break room.”
“It was like an employee mixing with the boss,” Wyl said. “But Rod explained that I would feel better about being a student if we could talk. He was right, but mostly because I found him very attractive.”
Rod turned toward the crowd as if sharing a secret. “The feeling was definitely mutual.”
The audience laughed.
“I guess you didn’t tell each other about your attraction,” Joe said. “Did that happen on your first date?”
“We never went out on an official first date,” Wyl said. “As part of the music course, I attended an orchestra concert in a neighboring city with Rod. We got to know one another on the drive to and from the concert.”
“That entire evening, it was all I could do to keep from touching Wyl. He would ask me questions during the concert by whispering in my ear. That warm breath and masculine scent almost drove me crazy.”
The audience laughed.
“We stopped for dinner before the concert, and our conversation naturally turned to music. I shared with Rod that I knew how to play the guitar.”
“I bought a guitar several years ago, intending to learn to play,” Rod said. “I play many instruments, but the guitar is one instrument I never learned. That guitar sat in its case, lonely and unused for a couple of years. So, I wouldn’t feel guilty, I even put it in a place where I couldn’t see it,”
A chuckle waved through the audience.
“I offered to give him guitar lessons, and he jumped at that chance.” Wyl paused briefly to think. “Now that I think back, I wonder if he was more interested in learning the guitar or in me. Rod, you want to answer that?” Wyl winked at him.
“Let’s say the guitar gave me a good excuse to spend quality time with you,” he winked back. “Obviously, you used teaching me as a ruse to spend time with me, too. We never did finish that first lesson.”
The audience laughed.
“I had invited Rod to the ranch for a steak dinner. My brother happened to be gone that night. We had the place to ourselves.” Wyl imitated Rod’s way of sharing a secret with the audience.
More laughter.
“Much as I wanted to, I avoided touching him,” Rod said. “I found him very attractive, but he never hinted at being gay, so I tried to be extra cautious.”
“We got through dinner, and then we started the guitar lesson. I helped Rod tune his guitar, then sat across from him and demonstrated a simple scale.”
