Last night's dinner was a wonderful standing rib roast of beef - just two ribs, quite sufficient for the two of us - with broccoli and Yorkshire pudding. This required earlier heading to the store for the broccoli and some horseradish. (I simply cannot imagine having roast beef without horseradish.)
The best prepared horseradish that we carry at the store is made by Kelchner's, and it is kept in the seafood department. I got over there and was greeted with a friendly "Well, hello!" It was Joe, a young-ish and good-looking fellow who usually can be found in the butcher's department. I've loaned him my copy of
Sauces, by James Peterson, which he's still reading and enjoying.
We got to talking about different stuff, like my discovery of the
Jessica's Biscuit website - I gave him the address - when he hesitated and said "I've been meaning to ask you this... how are things for employees who are out of the closet here? Because I'm thinking about coming out myself."
My turn to hesitate, briefly. It's not like I hadn't had my gaydar tweaked. I gave him an honest answer: I haven't had any problems at all. And there's Big Mike (who is leaving to work for another company). And everyone has been very supportive of Larry, whose partner of twenty-two years, David, passed away less than a month ago. And Ed, who mans the Customer Service desk, is well-liked.
This reassured Joe, but he pointed out that there's a different kind of atmosphere in the meat department, referring to a kind of machismo that hangs in the refrigerated air. I understood what he meant - Albert, the department head, is a jerk with an attitude.
I thought for a moment, and suggested to Joe that introducing his other half might help. "That was who was with you in your car a few days ago, when you passed me on the road?"
Yep, and they've been together eight years now. I think Joe was a little startled that I'd put two and two together so easily - I'd really added one and one, but it was the same idea.
It led me to another thought. "You might try talking with Bill and Chrissie - they've been together for a while." Bill is another of the butchers, Chrissie is second in command in the fish department. Joe raised his eyebrows at this thought, that approaching the matter as being part of a couple, with another couple, might be the best introduction to the subject. He nodded, reassured, and liked the idea.
At that, I had to head to the cash registers. Der Brucer was waiting in the car, and I had dinner to prepare.
It's going to be interesting, following what happens to Joe next. I'm pretty sure everything will be fine.
