Coda Josh Grant

In two weeks, a lot has changed. Ben told all his mates he had a boyfriend. That went surprisingly easy. “It’s because you are pretty straight acting.” “But that isn’t the point,” I argued. “It doesn’t matter, you can act any way you like.” “Yeah, sure, we know that,” said Ben. “But if you are a man, be a man…” “I guess, not really,” I said. “You should be yourself…” “I’m glad you are you,” said Ben. Straight guys seem to understand two masculine guys being into each other, now a days. If you are going to be gay, love another man, if you love some queeny guy why don’t you love a woman? It is the evolution of the straight guy. Okay, so they have some way to go accepting effeminate guys, but it’ll come. We were up Studley park waiting for the fireworks. We were all sitting together smoking some pot. A few off the mums and dads with kids gave us looks, but they didn’t say anything. “So, Ben?” said Mike. “A full time homo?” I saw Ben flinch. “Yeah Mike, big fag.” “And I hear you have dec...

Another year down, where do they go? They go so quick now. I'm guessing this New Year won't be quite the same as last year. It’s my first new year officially with Ben, with everybody knowing, and it will be good. We went for a bike ride to Kew, up Studley Park and around the Kew Boulevard and then home again, on our new bikes. No real plans for tonight, watch the fireworks, you know, the usual. I took Bruno over to mum and dads to keep him from freaking out. He’ll curl up with their bulldog. Not long to go.

“Nearly another year down, they go so quick. 2019. The turn of the century is nearly 20 years ago. Idiots are in charge of the world, we're all in for a bumpy climate change ride... to the end?” “Oh, please don't say that,” said Nick. “The science is in.” “The science could be wrong,” said Nick. “Yes, the science could be wrong,” “It would be better if it is wrong,” said Nick. I stood for a minute and thought about what we'd just said. “Are we saying now that our best bet is if the science could be wrong.” “They are better odds? You know, when you think about it.” “95% of climate scientists agree, I am not following your odds.” Nick shrugged. “It’s not too late,” I say. “We still have time to save the human race.” “Time, smime, it is very inconvenient. I have to find a husband.” Some scientists say if we mass plant trees we could delay the worst of it by years.” “Surely, if it were that easy we’d have done it all ready?” “Why does finding a husband clash with climate scient...

It was Me and Ben and Daniel and Candi for Xmas at home. Ben and I bought ourselves new bikes for Xmas, so we can go riding together. I bought Candi a silk scarf. “This is gorgeous,” said Candi. She rubbed the material against her face. Daniel bought me and Ben matching gorgeous woollen jumpers. “Isn’t that what you guys do?” said Daniel. “Normally it is t-shirts with boyfriend written on the front of each.” “Daniel laughed. “I wish I saw them.” Candi bought me an enormous pot of green and yellow Mother in Law’s Tongues. “Wow! Thanks Candi.” “My pleasure.” We smoked a shit load of pot before we ate. I bought Daniel jocks and socks. “Ha ha bro you are too funny,” said Daniel. Daniel held up the jocks. “Model them for us, babe,” said a very wonky-eyed Candi. “What?” “I want to see if they fit you.” “Medium, they’ll fit.” “For me,” slurred Candi. She ripped them from their packaging. And Daniel being stoned, and not the shy type and one for the attention, stripped off in front of us all. ...

The morning sky was just breaking into something beautiful, behind Ben’s head. We were standing on the footpath outside the house. Bruno and Murray and Jamie were talking about taking more and partying on somewhere else. Evan seemed to be keen to head off with them. Even still maintains he’s straight. Daniel left with Candi, sweaty and shirtless still. Mike and Nick were heading off. Buds with benefits were Mike and Nick, if Nick had no other man, and Mike had no other girl, they would often, normally hook up. “Bye babe,” said Nick. He stepped towards me and kissed me on both cheeks. “Good bye handsome,” Nick said to Ben, before kissing him on both cheeks. “Don’t behave.” “Bye Nick,” Ben and I said in unison. “You either,” I said. “Cute,” said Nick. “You’ll be finishing each other’s sentences next. Then it was just me and Ben, standing on the footpath. We were suitably vague about our plans because we were just working it out ourselves. “Just you and me,” I said. “Just me and you,” sai...

It was the Saturday night before Xmas, we had a tradition of getting together, at Gordon and Owen’s. Gordon cooks, he always cooks too much. Nick and Me and Angie, Nick’s sister arrived together. Mike. Gordon and Owen, had some new Greek twink named Demetrius who has major daddy issues, apparently, who they had met at the beach yesterday, his 18th birthday. Bruno and Murray and Jamie, George and Sophie were there. Daniel and Candi came in Daniel’s car. Ben and Amy turned up. Amy seemed to have a girl in toe, Natalie, and she seemed to want to leave Ben with me. Unexpected. Ben and I hadn’t seen each other for a few months, no reason why. So, then it was Ben and me sitting together, Ben looked at me and smiled, he reached down and squeezed my thigh. “Here we are.” “Here we are.” I got him a cowboy hat, from the top shelf of Gordon’s book case, he looked good in it. Blonde hair, black felt? Is it felt? Black whatever cowboy hats are made from. He looked adorable. “You look adorable.” I t...