Another Season is a coming-of-age story about a group of gay teenage African American boys, set somewhere in the 60s. The debut novel by Rahbi, centers around Barry, Gary, Jimmy, Billy, Freddie and Skelley, lifelong friends that take you through their last months of high school and adventures during the last summer before going off to college and individual directions. An exciting first effort filled with twists that combine a compelling intelligently told story, with touches of humor and a highly charged erotica.
Sex was poured all over him. Tread stood in the doorway of the Sky bar, looking out on nothing in particular, drawing cooly on a cigarette. Tread. His mother had named him that because she said he was treadin’ on hertime. She had started calling him that while he was still in the womb. “Hurry up, motherfucker and come on outta there; you’re treadin’ on my time,” she would say. “Bitch had a sense of humor,” Tread had said with a chuckle, in relating how he had gotten his name to one of his tricks. Tread Allen Bouvier. He was from New Orleans; tall, six feet two, and 190 pounds of fine toned, well muscled flesh. His face was smooth and caramel colored, with the shadow of a light mustache. His eyes were deep set, with a mixture of childlike wonder and soulful intensity. And with all that, he was cosmetically appealing in that place where “the girls” placed much importance. Tread drew one more drag on his cigarette and plucked the butt into the gutter. He stretched and turned, and walked into the bar. No, he sauntered into the bar; his walk was definitely a saunter. Those long bowed legs, with a little dip to the left as he moved along. Not an affectation, it was the result of one leg being a little longer than the other due to a break in childhood. He was like a royal entering court -- all eyes were on him and everybody knew him “What’s up, Tread,” “What’s happenin’,” “Hey, man;” the greetings went as he made his way slowly through the crowd. He found a spot at the end of the bar, a pony of Duff Gordon waiting for him as he sat down. He lifted the glass, nodded toward the bartender and took a sip of the sherry. He took out another cigarette and lit up. We were sitting in an unobtrusive corner booth near the door when Tread made his way into the bar. I was on the side of the booth that faced the door. Me, Gary and Billy had been talking when I noticed Tread in the doorway, and when they saw how I was concentrating on something else, they both turned to see what I was looking at, as Tread was plucking his cigarette and heading into the bar. “Who is that? Billy was saying, just as the chorus of greetings began. “I don’t know,” I said, “But that was quite an entrance. “He’s gorgeous,” Gary said. It was our first time in the Sky bar. Skelley knew the bartender and he let us come in even though he knew we weren’t of age. He just told us to be cool and let us sit in one of the booths. Skelley had gone to the bathroom and was now returning, but stopped at the bar to speak to Tread before comingcoming back to the table. “Miss Skelley knows him!” Billy said excitedly. I got to meet that trade!” After chatting for a minute with Tread, Skelley bought four beers and returned to the table. “Who is that trade, chile? Billy asked, as Skelley set the beers in front of us and slid into the booth next to me. “You can’t handle that,” he replied, taking a cigarette from the silver case he carried them in. “That’s Tread,” he continued, “And he’s a hustler.” “A hustler, huh?” Billy said, “What does he hustle?” “What do you want?” Skelley said, slowly exhaling the smoke. “Tread’s a pretty complex character; he makes his own rules. He’s cool if you know him, but he can be a snake. Like I said, though, you can’t handle him.” “Humpf” Gary snorted, “I bet I could tame him.” “Don’t you have your hands full right now?” Skelley said. “There’s always room for one more.” Gary replied. “Have you ever had him?” He continued. “We messed around a little once when I first met him, but it was no big thing. I knew it wasn’t going anywhere because of his lifestyle. You want to meet him?” Before Gary could answer, Skelley was turning around and motioning to Tread. “Chile, I didn’t say I was ready yet,” Gary mildly protested. But Tread was already sliding off the stool and wal – no sauntering toward the booth. He was really hot looking, but the fact that he was a hustler was kind of a turn-off for me, yet I was still curious about this dark angel. Billy was emitting a low, stifled squeal as he watched Tread approach. Gary started laughing at Billy’s reaction. “Did I miss something funny?” Tread said, in a deep, bordering on raspy, voice, as he stopped in front of the booth. Gary just smiled, looking at Tread, and Billy became shy and flustered, lowering his eyes. “I want you to meet some people,” Skelley said, not responding to Tread’s inquiry, and made introductions all around. “Why don’t you join us,” Gary invited, going into seductive mode. “Okay, for a minute,” Tread said, looking at his watch and sliding into the booth beside Gary and Billy, after retrieving his drink from the bar. “So, what did I miss that was so funny?” Tread persisted with his initial question, training those intense, sensuous eyes directly on Gary. But Gary was just as bold as Tread; he might have been his match. “Oh, I was just laughing about Billy getting all excited about the way you look,” Gary said, returning Tread’s direct stare and still smiling. “Miss Thing!” Billy protested. “And you?” Tread inquired, still looking at Gary, ignoring Billy. “And me, what?” Gary probed, slightly coy. “And are you excited about the way I look?” I knew Gary was experiencing the same mix of feelings that I was, but with a little keener curiosity. Despite this, Gary answered, “I’ve seen a lot of exciting boys.” “I’m not a boy,” Tread replied evenly, “So, I’d be a real treat for you.” The way he said it, and the soulful expression on his face, made you feel it was part of his hustle, and you got the impression that variations of that line had met with success more than once. Gary lowered his eyes and finished the last swallow of his beer. “You want another drink?” Tread asked, as Gary brought the empty bottle down on the table. He hadn’t stopped looking at Gary since the initial exchangeand it was almost as if no one else was at the table. “Let me buy you a real drink.” “Ya’ll want anything?” He went on, finally including the rest of us. Tread signaled for the barmaid and we gave her our orders. She looked at me, Billy and Gary a little skeptically, but when Tread said it was alright, she shrugged her shoulders and left to fill the orders. Tread tapped out a fresh cigarette and offered one to Gary. He lit both cigarettes, then said, “So, what do you think?” He wouldn’t let it go. You could see he was enjoying it, toying with Gary. “OK,” Gary said, exasperatedly. “You’re gorgeous, you’re fine, what took the Lord so long to send you!?” He drew slowly on his cigarette, smiling cunningly at Gary. “Now, was that so hard?” He said, blowing smoke in Gary’s face. Gary was won over, and I knew he was going to pursue this.
About Rahbi
With Another Season comes the debut novel of Rahbi, a gifted writer whose poetry has appeared in The Poet and Broken English magazines; as well as the anthologies, Magic Of The Muse and Eternal Songs. This consummate, many-faceted artist, has also acted on stage, in films, and television. An incomparable singer, he has performed in Europe and across the United States, including, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. He has been a winner in the American Song Festival competition with the Country/Rock composition, Guys Like That, and has recorded and released the EP and single, Rock This Pain, and the 10-song LP, Slightly Jaded, on the V&O label.
Another Season is a coming-of-age story about a group of gay teenage African American boys, set somewhere in the 60s. The debut novel by Rahbi, centers around Barry, Gary, Jimmy, Billy, Freddie and Skelley, lifelong friends that take you through their last months of high school and adventures during the last summer before going off to college and individual directions. An exciting first effort filled with twists that combine a compelling intelligently told story, with touches of humor and a highly charged erotica.
With Another Season comes the debut novel of Rahbi, a gifted writer whose poetry has appeared in The Poet and Broken English magazines; as well as the anthologies, Magic Of The Muse and Eternal Songs. This consummate, many-faceted artist, has also acted on stage, in films, and television. An incomparable singer, he has performed in Europe and across the United States, including, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. He has been a winner in the American Song Festival competition with the Country/Rock composition, Guys Like That, and has recorded and released the EP and single, Rock This Pain, and the 10-song LP, Slightly Jaded, on the V&O label.