Mentorship

“It was a lovely dinner,” Pam said again, for the third time, from the back seat.

It had begun to rain on their drive home, a forty minute trip from their daughter’s apartment to their bungalow in the suburbs. She always hoped that Erica’s career would take off, that their prodigy would be able to move closer to home, but that would take time. Pam had patience. In the meantime, she and Joe would make the drive, help Erica save on fuel costs, and make sure to stay connected.

And, of course, with the new development, maybe there would be a way to be closer sooner than later.

“Sweetie, don’t forget to stop at David’s on the way home,” Pam said, tapping her husband on the shoulder, “He has a few things to collect.”

Joe grunted an acknowledgment. Her husband could be forgetful sometimes, but she would forgive him if he let this one slip. He was, after all, quite distracted. It wasn’t every day that you were given such an important task, something integral into the future happiness of your daughter.

Pam gazed out at the rain, washing clean the streets of the city, and her mind slipped back to their meal. There had been five settings, two for each couple, and one for the guest of honour. The Amazing Alex. Strangely, both Joe and Pam hadn’t recognized him when they first arrived. It must have been exhaustion, or a slip of the mind, but they had looked at The Amazing Alex as if he were a complete stranger.

Not that they had cared in the moment. For some reason, one that was well beyond Pam’s understanding, they had been far too upset over David’s outfit. Why was that exactly? The pink minidress was fetching, and he moved so nicely in those heels. Perhaps it was that they’d been intimidated. Perhaps they had thought their daughter had ended up with someone exhibiting toxic masculinity.

Whatever the base, The Amazing Alex had been at their side almost immediately. He murmured something, something that Pam couldn’t quite hear but seemed to find comfort in. Once he was done, both she and Joe seemed to have calmed down.

And honestly, what was the point of being upset, anyway? Davis was a perfectly normal young man, just trying to find his way. So what if he wanted to show off how manly he was?

The food has been delicious. Roast, potatoes, and a salad for good measure. Erica had turned out to be quite the chef. Pam hated to admit it, but she would have to spend some extra time on the treadmill in order to cover the calories she’d gladly taken in.

Joe grunted again in the front seat. David, sitting next to him, was kissing his neck and rubbing his inner thigh. How nice that the two were finally starting to get along. Selfishly, Alan was glad that she wouldn’t have to hear Joe complain about Erica’s boyfriend anymore. Like at dinner, when the conversation shifted to the pair’s future.

“Don’t you think you could do better than a guy like this?” Joe blurted out, pointing straight a David.

“Dad!” Erica was horrified, “What kind of thing is that to say?!”

“An honest thing. He’s got not future, he’s got no ambition, and you’re better than that.”

“Come on…” Erica began, but didn’t finish.

Because once again, their good friend The Amazing Alex began to mumble. What was he trying to do with the mumbling anyway? Was he trying to convey some critical issue? Whatever it was, it was completely lost on Pam. She needed things to be much more straightforward.

The mumbling did distract her enough, though, that she could finally puzzle out how to fix the relationship between the two men.

“Have you considered,” she had parsed at the dinner, “that the two of you need each other?”

Both men stopped what they were doing and stared at her.

“What I mean is,” Pam said, “Joe, you need David to become the man to take Erica down to the altar, and David, you need Joe to teach you how to be the right kind of man for Erica.”

The realization dawned on the pair. They both wholeheartedly agreed with the sentiment. Erica, too, said that it sounded like a great idea.

“So then it’s settled,” Pam had said, “David, you move in with us tonight and stay until you’re ready for Erica. Until you’re just right.”

“Great!” Both men said in unison.

“But when will he be ready?” Erica said, “I’m going to miss him.”

Again, The Amazing Alex mumbled something. That man should see a diction coach. For a professional performer, he sure had a hard time being understood.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Pam said, having revelation opening before her like curtains being drawn, “If David wants to be a man for you, honey, then he first has to learn how to properly be a woman for your father.”

“Think of it like mentorship,” Joe had piped in with that patient explanatory tone that Pam loved, “With your mother and I showing how to properly please me, how to live his life as a proper woman, it won’t take long at all. As long as he cooperative.”

“Oh goodie!” David said, clapping his hands eagerly, “I can’t wait to get started, Daddy! I’m going to make you cream so much!”

“One step at a time, David,” Pam said with a smile, “Finish your dinner. There’ll be plenty of time for that later.”

Not that they’d waited too long. Once the meal was finished, Erica and Pam cleared up. When they had returned to the dining table, David was already on Joe’s lap, arms around the older man, lips locked in a passionate kiss.

Both of the women sighed in delight. How many times had they texted each other, hoping, praying that their men would start to get along. Seeing them together was like a dream come true.

The car swerved a bit. Pam tapped Joe on the shoulder again.

“Eyes on the road, sweetie,” she reminded him, “and David, get your lips off of his cock, at least until we’ve parked. It’s not safe.”

There was a quick slurping sound and David sat up from Joe’s lap.

“Yes ma’am,” he said, a guilty look on his face.

Yes, he had a lot to learn, but that was why he was moving in with them. If Joe and Pam couldn’t teach David, then nobody could. But once they were done with him, he’d be the perfect man for their Erica. And what kind of parent wouldn’t want that for their daughter?