It didn’t seem like the sweating was going to stop anytime soon. It was a hot, humid night in New Orleans. The temperature might drop a little, but it wasn’t going to get cool. As they continued down Bourbon Street, further into the French Quarter, they found themselves at the corner of St. Ann Street -- right in front of two of New Orleans’ biggest gay bars, Oz and the Bourbon Pub Parade.

Wayne was walking slowly and telling a story about some trouble that he and Chris got into in high school when he realized that Toby wasn’t beside him. He looked back and Toby was staring up at the balcony over the Bourbon Pub Parade. Wayne walked back, looked up in the direction of Toby’s gaze and asked, “What’re you lookin’ at?”

Without moving his eyes, Toby said, “There’s two guys up there makin’ out.”

“So there is,” Wayne said, smiling. “How long you wanna watch ‘em?”

Toby looked at him, realized he was being funny and sarcastic and said, “I reckon ‘til they stop. I ain’t never seen that before.”

“Seriously?” Wayne asked. “You never saw two guys kiss?”

“TV and movies, yeah, but not in person.”

“You don’t like gay people?” Wayne asked.

“Nah, it ain’t that at all. It’s just ...” Toby was struggling for words. “I need a beer.”

They headed back toward Canal and Wayne bought two more large beers. Toby knew he didn’t need any more to drink, but finished off his beer before Wayne was even halfway done with his.

Wayne was going on with his story about the time he and Chris went to go swimming at a quarry and found a bunch of other kids were already there, skinny dipping. He was telling about how they stole their clothes and hid in the woods to watch them all freak out. Out of nowhere, Toby says, “I wonder what it’s like to kiss a guy.”

Wayne just stopped and stared at Toby. Toby suddenly realized he’d said that out loud. “Why you askin’?”

“I dunno,” Toby said. “I’m drunk and I prolly should just go home and go to bed.”

“Aw come on,” Wayne pleaded. “It’s our one night in the Big Easy. Did seeing those guys freak you out a little?”

Toby just shook his head from side to side. Wayne was searching his face for answers, but not coming up with any. Suddenly, Toby’s eyes filled with tears. A single teardrop rolled down his cheek.

Wayne’s eyes got big. He put both hands on Toby’s shoulders and said “Toby, man, what’s wrong? Why you cryin’?”

Toby took a deep breath and looked upwards, toward the sky. “Sometimes I think about doing it with another guy,” he said, then hung his head. Wayne pulled him in a little closer and give him a strong hug. Toby’s arms just hung by his side.

After a moment, Wayne stepped back and said, “Toby, man, listen. That’s perfectly okay.”

“No, it’s not,” he said. “Have you ever thought about it?”

“Yes,” said Wayne. “I’ve thought about it and I’ve done it.”

“What?” said Toby. “You fucked a guy?”

“Yeah,” Wayne said.

“Once, or more?” Toby asked, looking right at him.

“More,” Wayne said. “Toby, I’m gay.”

“Are you kiddin’ me?” he asked.

“I am not,” Wayne said, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m a card-carryin’, certified, dick-suckin’ homosexual.” He was smiling.

Toby couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Don’t you think you shoulda mentioned that?”

“My philosophy is if anybody asks, I tell them. If they don’t ask, I don’t bother bringin’ it up.”

“Who all knows about you?” Toby asked.

“Everybody who cared enough to ask, I reckon.”

“Your parents? Your sisters?”

“Yep,” Wayne said, “they all know.”

“They’re good with it?” Toby asked, a little disbelievingly.

• “They are,” Wayne answered. “Hey, look. Let’s do this. There’s a gay bar over on Royal Street that’s supposed to be kinda fun. Not too big, they supposedly have some drag queen shows and that kinda shit. Let’s go grab a drink and we’ll talk this out, okay? If you ain’t never seen gay people, you need to see some if you’re in New Orleans.”