“And are you?”
“Yes, I am making a list of questions.”
“Would you like to share them with me?”
“I don’t think you could answer these questions, Mom.”
“No, I suppose not. You know, marriage is a big commitment, kiddo.”
“Yes, it’s a very long-term arrangement.”
“Do you think you’re ready to make that sort of promise?”
Ezra felt more confident about Roman than he had about his choice in universities or major area of study. In fact, with all of the uncertainties in his life, Roman was his one constant. The thought of having him forever sounded like a dream come true.
“I love him,” Ezra said. “My heart says yes.”
“And your mind?”
“Also, yes.” Ezra waited but his mother didn’t ask. “My body says yes too, in case you were wondering.”
“I figured. Bodies are quick to say yes to things.”
“Not mine. My body is usually the last one to say yes, but not this time.” His body said yes-yes-yes-yes… to infinity.
“Well, I hope you are very thorough with your list and make sure thatallof your questions get answered in a satisfactory manner before you agree to anything.”
“I will do that. And don’t worry, one of my questions is whether or not you can live with us when you become old and frail or if you experience a disability due to some unfortunate and horrific accident.”
“Well, I appreciate that, Ezra. Thank you for looking out for my future infirmity.”
“It pays to plan ahead.”
* * *
Roman had swornto himself that he wouldn’t pressure Ezra for an answer, and he honored that promise. But he did spend a lot of time wondering what was going on in Ezra’s mind while waiting for him to process his proposal. Sometimes when Ezra seemed especially lost in thought, Roman would venture to ask him what he was thinking about. On one such occasion, Ezra responded with, “I’m thinking aboutangraecum sesquipedale.”
Roman had grown accustomed to Ezra’s many and varied thoughts. If he were to try and bet on the response Ezra might give him when he asked that question, he’d lose every single time. “Oh yeah, and what’s that?”
“It’s an orchid that grows in Madagascar that has an extremely long nectar spur. And Charles Darwin hypothesized that there must be an insect with a proboscis roughly 35 centimeters long which pollinates its flower. And for a long time that particular theory was ridiculed, until many years later when such a moth was discovered.”
“That’s a long proboscis,” Roman said. He wasn’t sure exactly how long 35 centimeters was, only knew that it was longer than his dick.
“Yes, and it’s a great example of co-evolution, that is when two species are so specific to each other that their survival is dependent on one another, which is kind of like a marriage.”
Roman smiled. “Am I the moth with the big proboscis?”
Ezra rolled his eyes and laughed. “I suppose so. Did you know the word ‘orchid’ is derived from the Greek word ‘orchis,’ which means ‘testicle’ because of the shape of its root tubers?”
Roman reached down to adjust his cock, which was stiffening in his gym shorts. “Babe, you’re making me horny.”
“I am?” Ezra said with wide-eyed innocence, only Roman knew better by now.
“Yeah, you got me thinking about your two peachy orchids and pink proboscis and how I want to get you all creamy.”
“But Roman,” he protested weakly, “it’s Tuesday.”
“My schedule’s wide open if you want to come over here and start something sexy.”
