Pretend You're Someone Else (Chap. 4)

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ID: 1727540   (Rated: 18+) Pretend You're Someone Else  A man hides a secret from his family and has no clue that his son has the same secret. by KAT26/Adrian--Published!

Part One

Chapter Four

March-1992

Avoy, Georgia

"I prefer cashmere over women."

         In every house, no matter how big or small, there is a special room that a person loves more than any other, a private sanctuary where a man or woman can retreat to when they crave their "alone time."

         For most men this space is usually the garage. They could stand there for hours working on their car, or dreaming about the ones they wished to buy someday. Unlike many men, Peter's favorite room happened to be his gigantic walk-in closet. An absolute envy to many women, that is, if any woman were to actually see it.

         When his father purchased the home for his son and his daughter-in-law to trick the citizens of Avoy that they were a happily married couple, he forgot to mention one small detail--there were no closets! Until the end of World War II many homes came built without shelves or closet space. Wealthy families stored their clothes in wooden wardrobes, or armories. Everyone else kept their belongings in trunks or draped over pegs nailed to the wall. Being how this plain, five-bedroom, Victorian had been built during the turn-of-the-century, there wasn't a single closet located in the entire house.

         Peter knew he had to have a room to hold his catacomb of clothing. In his childhood bedroom at the "Swanson Manor," he had several walk-in closets bursting with clothes. Since marrying Joy, Peter had kept his sanity by hitting the landmark department stores in Atlanta. With his compulsive shopping habits he didn't need a closet for his collection; he needed a room turned into one.

         On the first day of observing the renovation plans, Peter had to do something. There were two adjacent bedrooms opening up into the master suite. Joy was to occupy one room, since she was expected to move out once the baby was born. Like she would share a room, let alone a bed with her husband! With that, Peter chose the other room to be his new closet. Elaborate plans to turn this simple space, which use to be a children's playroom, into a magnificent closet were drawn-up. The room was sealed from the hallway entrance, while two French doors were used to replace the curtain that served as the bedroom entrance. The ugly brown carpet was ripped-off, and stained hardwood floors were added.
Built-in shelves were placed on the back wall, while three rows of clothing rods were attached to the two sidewalls. In the center of the room sat an island table complete with a locked drawer, in case there were items that didn't need to be out in the open.

         It was a dream closet and over the years many different items were added. Peter placed two antique mirrors on both sides of the wall shelf. A vintage crystal chandelier hung over the room. On top of the island sat a high-tech coffee maker. In his opinion the closet was finally perfect after eighteen-years of hard work.

*****

         A fresh pot of organic coffee sat waiting for Peter when he stepped out of the shower and into the closet. Glancing over the rows of expensive silk and wool Italian suits that hung in a perfect row, he began to wonder what he should wear to court. While slowly pondering this important decision, Peter surveyed his massive wardrobe.

         Towards the back of the room stood a collection of shoes ranging from imported leather to Converse sneakers. To his right hung many different multi-colored outfits that he knew raised eyebrows in Avoy. Pink silk shirts stood next to yellow and green blazers. On another rod hung his prized collection of vintage over coats that looked as if they came straight from a western movie. With a small laugh, Peter caught a glimpse of his glittery, blue feather boas and ostrich boots.

         Opening a drawer he pulled out an orange scarf and held it up to an expensive black cashmere suit. Smiling, Peter remembered something Robert told him back when they were teenagers: "Rich people can get away with wearing anything."

         If Peter chose to wear an elaborate, sixties-style jacket out in public, he knew that he could get away with it. Since childhood he had known the ugly truth, "If you had money, and did something weird, people called you "eccentric." If the average person were to wear that kind of outfit, they were labeled a "freak" and their sexuality was questioned." Like it really made a difference, if someone fell in love with a person of their own gender.

         Briefly, Peter thought about what the citizens of Avoy would say if they could see what he had in his closet especially what lay hidden in the secret, locked drawer. There wasn't any clothing in there, or anything sexual. In fact, Peter used the drawer to hide his old love letters from Frankie. Their relationship might have ended years ago, but the wonderful memories they shared had kept Peter sane for all these years. During the most difficult times of his marriage to Joy, he found solitude by taking the letters out and rereading them. Someday they would re-kindle their romance. They just had to.

         Avoy was a town full of gossipers and hypocrites, which is the reason why he could never reveal to anyone his love for Frankie. Money and religion played a major role in the town's unique politics; take Mr. Williams for example. For as long as Peter could remember, this man had been the town's oldest, and most miserable person. He was born around the turn-of-the-century and ended up living in the same house all his life; a single story Victorian, which probably hadn't been remodeled since the day it was built. Mr. Williams was one of the lucky residents of Avoy, he didn't pay Erich Anderson any rent. Since he owned his house there was obviously a lot of extra income, which explained his secret that was discovered only after his death.

         When he passed away in nineteen-eighty-four, the old man's strange behavior and the reason why he never left his house came to light: he was a hoarder. Furniture, clothes, antiques and toys were strewn, tightly jam-packed into every nook and cranny of the house. The majority of the items were still in their original boxes. Some of his purchases resided in the shopping bags. Throughout the years, an elaborate maze was created through his home. Trails and pathways snaked their way around the clothing and boxes.

         A year after the funeral the town showed its true colors. Battles were fought over the vintage toys, and antiques. In the end an auction was held that attracted buyers from across the state. Nobody paid Mr. Williams a bit of attention while he was alive but once it was discovered that his home held a treasure trove of collectibles, it seemed everybody stepped forward and claimed to be the man's best-friend.

          Small town politics always amused Peter. He just wished that someday the town wouldn't treat him the same way they treated Mr. Williams. Ever since inheriting his dad's company, Peter had worked hard on correcting his high school image of "The spoiled rich kid." Almost twenty-years later, he believed he had succeeded.
With that, he changed into a pair of wool slacks, a cashmere sweater and for finishing touch draped the orange scarf around his neck. The bright color seemed to bring out his blue eyes, and the natural highlights in his auburn hair. Also, he knew he could get away with it.

*Next Chapter*

ID: 1734289   (Rated: 18+) Pretend You're Someone Else (Chap. 5)  "Can't you tell? I'm flirting with you, baby!" (1971) by KAT26/Adrian--Published!